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PUBLIC SERVICE RULES
Table of Contents
Chapter Subject
1. Introduction
2. Appointments and Leaving the Service
3. Discipline
4. Emoluments and Increments
5. Annual Performance Evaluation Reports (APER) and Certificate of Service
6. Examinations in Law and Official Publications
7. Medical and Dental Procedures
8. Compensation, Insurance and Personal Effects
9. Petitions and Appeals
10. Leave
11. Free Transport Facilities within Nigeria
12. Courses of Instruction Within and Outside Nigeria
13. Allowances
14. Inventions and Award Committee
15. Reward for Outstanding Service
16. Application of Public Service Rules to Federal Government Parastatals
INDEX
A
APPOINTMENTS AND LEAVING THE SERVICE
Authority for Appointment/Recruitment . .. .. 020101
Appointment by Federal Civil Service Commission .. 020102
Appointment to Senior Posts .. .. .. 020102
Seniority .. .. .. .. .. .. 020106
Unpaid Staff Prohibited .. .. .. .. 020107
Personal Records .. .. .. .. .. 020108
RECRUITMENT
Definition .. .. .. .. .. .. 020201
Types of Appointment .. .. .. .. 020202
Trainee/Pupils .. .. ... .. .. 020203
Probation .. .. .. .. .. .. 020204
Eligibility for Recruitment .. .. .. .. 020205
Prior Approval in Certain Cases .. .. .. 020206
Procedure for Appointment .. .. .. .. 020207
Personal Particulars .. .. .. .. 020208
Oath of Secrecy .. .. .. .. .. 020209
Secret Society Prohibition of Membership .. .. 020210
Contravention .. .. ... .. .. 020211
RULES FOR APPOINTMENT ON PROBATION
Period of Probation .. .. .. .. 020301
Compulsory Examination .. .. .. .. 020302
Confirmation or Termination at the end of Probation Period ..020303
Confirmation of Officers Holding Senior Posts .. .. 020304
RULES FOR APPOINTMENT ON CONTRACT
Definition .. .. .. .. .. .. 020401
Rules for Appointment on Contract .. .. .. 020402
Duration of Appointments. .. .. .. .. 020403
Termination During Current Contract .. .. 020404
Termination of Contract .. .. .. .. 020404
Re-engagement (Responsibility of Contract Officer) .. 020405
Re-engagement (Responsibility of Permanent Secretary .. 020406
A - continued
Earlier Notification of Non Re-engagement .. .. 020407
Continuity of Contract Service .. .. .. 020408
Deferred Leave .. .. .. .. .. 020409
Incremental Date .. .. .. .. .. 020410
Appointment of Retired Officers on Contract .. .. 020411
Promotion .. .. .. .. .. .. 020412
TRANSFERS AND SECONDMENTS
Definition .. .. .. .. .. .. 020501
Procedure for Transfer/Secondment .. .. 020502
Inter-Departmental Transfers .. .. .. 020503
Transfers of Junior Posts.. .. .. .. .. 020503
Transfer from Clerical Assistant to Clerical Officer .. 020504
Salary on Transfer .. .. .. .. .. 020505
Conditions to be met for transfer .. .. .. 020506
Posting of Officers Outside their Professional Cadre Prohibited..020506
ACTING APPOINTMENT
When Made .. .. .. .. .. 020601
Not made Unless Necessary .. .. .. 020602
Not a form of Trial Promotion .. .. .. 020603
Procedure .. .. .. .. .. .. 020604
Date of Commencement .. .. .. .. 020605
Date of Cessation .. .. .. .. .. 020606
Effect of Casual or Special Leave .. .. .. 020607
LEAVING THE SERVICE
Retirement in Public interest .. .. .. 030601
Termination of Appointment During Probationary Period ... 020801
Relinquishment of an Officer During Probationary Period .. 020802
Termination .. .. .. …. .. 020803
Resignation .. .. .. .. .. 020804
Leaving the Service During a Leave Year .. .. 020805
Leaving the Service on Failing Examination of Office, etc 020806
Compulsory Contributions .. .. .. .. 020807
Payment of Retirement Benefits .. .. 020808
Processing of Retirement Benefits .. .. .. 020809
Retirement .. .. .. .. .. 020810
A - continued
ALLOWANCES
Definition .. .. .. .. .. .. 130101
Allowances Subject to Periodic Review .. .. 130101
Resettlement Allowance .. .. .. .. 130101
Types of Allowance.. .. .. .. .. 130102
Kilometre Allowance .. .. .. .. 130103
Disengagement Allowance .. .. .. .. 130104
Hotel Accommodation Allowance for newly
Recruited/Newly Posted Officer .. .. .. 130105
Duty Tour Allowance .. .. .. .. 130106
Transport and Local Running .. .. .. 130107
Estacode Allowance .. .. .. .. 130108
Entertainment on Duty Visit Outside Nigeria .. .. 130109
Estacode Supplementation Allowance .. .. 130110
Travelling Days .. .. .. .. .. 130111
Warm Clothing Allowance .. .. .. .. 130112
Local Course Allowance .. .. .. 130113
Book Allowance/Project Allowance .. .... .. 130114
Responsibility Allowance .. .. .. .. 130115
Overtime Allowance .. .. .. .. 130116
Entitled Officers .. .. .. .. .. 130117
Authority for Overtime .. .. .. .. 130118
Normal Approved Working Time .. .. .. 130119
Payment of Overtime .. .. .. .. 130120
Circumstances in which Officers can work Overtime .. 130121
Limitation of Total Monthly Overtime .. .. 130122
Rate of Payment of Overtime .. .. .. 130123
Work Free Days .. .. .. .. 130124
Payment for the Time Worked Done on Public Holiday .. 130125
Effect of Acting Appointment .. .. .. 130126
Uniform Allowance .. .. .. .. .. 130127
Acting Allowance .. .. .. .. 130128
Rate of Acting Allowance .. .. .. .. 130129
Officers Receiving Personal Allowance .. 130130
Contract Officers and Re-Engaged Pensioners .. 130131
A - continued
Resettlement Allowance Previously known as
Disturbances Allowance not an Emolument .. .. 130132
Definition of Transfer .. .. .. .. 130133
Resettlement Allowance Rate of Payment .. .. 130134
Not payable if Transfer is at Officer’s own request .. 130135
Part Time Teaching Allowance .. .. .. 130136
Full Time Teaching Allowance .. .. .. 130137
House Master/Mistress Allowance .. .. .. 130138
Science/Maths Teaching Allowance .. .. .. 130139
Laboratory Attendant’s Allowance .. .. .. 130140
Shift Duties Allowance .. .. .. .. 130141
ANNUAL PERFORMANCE EVALUATION REPORTS AND CERTIFICATES OF SERVICE
GENERAL
Reporting Officer .. .. .. .. .. 050101
Reports to be Full and Candid .. .. .. 050102
Communication of Reports to the Officer .. .. 050103
REPORTS ON SECONDED OFFICERS
Secondment to Ministry/Extra-Ministerial Office .. 050104
Secondment to Corporations, State or State
Owned Companies .. .. .. .. .. 050105
PROGRESS REPORTS OFFICERS
Object .. .. .. .. .. .. 050201
Timing
Normal .. .. .... .. .. .. 050202
In Special Cases .. .. .. .. .. 050203
Procedure .. .. .. .. .. .. 050204
ANNUAL PERFORMANCE EVALUATION - REPORTS ON SENIOR OFFICERS
Object .. .. .. .. .. .. 050301
Period .. .. .. .. .. .. 050302
Action by Officers .. .. ... .. 050303/050304
Departmental Routine .. .. .. .. 050305
Action by Permanent Secretary/Head of Ministerial Office .. 050306
A - continued
ANNUAL PERFORMANCE EVALUATION - REPORTS ON JUNIOR OFFICERS
Progress Reports on Unconfirmed Officers .. .. 050401
Annual Performance Evaluation Reports .. .. 050402
C
COMPENSATION FOR INJURIES
Application of Workmen’s Compensation Act .. 070401
Exceptions .. .. .. .. 070402/070403
Serious/Permanent Incapacity or Death .. .. 070404
Action by Injured Officer .. .. .. 070405/070406
Action by Ministry/Extra-Ministerial Office .. .. 070407
COMPENSATION AND INSURANCE
LOSS OF PROPERTY
Loss of Private Property .. .. .. .. 080101
LOSS OF LIFE
Death in Service .. .. .. .. .. 080201
Motor Vehicle .. .. .. .. .. 080202
Insurance at Government Expense .. .. .. 080203
Responsibility for Insurance .. .. .. 080204
Stop Over Facilities .. .. .. .. 080205
COURSES OF INSTRUCTION WITHIN AND OUTSIDE NIGERIA
GENERAL
Application .. .. .. .. .. 120101
PROCEDURE
Obtaining Approval .. .. .. .. 120102
Briefing of Officer .. .. .. .. .. 120103
Special Duty Visit: Effect on Leave .. .. .. 120104 Course of Instruction .. .. ..
.. 120105
A. DUTY VISIT OUTSIDE NIGERIA
Discharging Duty during Vacation Leave Away from
Normal Place of Residence .. .. .. 120202
Refund of Daily Travelling Expenses Abroad .. .. 120203
C - continued
B. COURSES OF INSTRUCTION OUTSIDE NIGERIA
Condition .. .. .. .. .. 120301
Passage .. .. .. .. .. .. 120302
Courses with Rates .. .. .. .. 120303
Courses Sponsored by Donor Agencies/Countries .. 120304
Overseas Employment During Training Courses .. 120305
Courses Within Nigeria .. .. .. .. 120306
Interruption of Training Courses .. .. .. 120307
Externally Assisted Courses .. .. .. 120308 Courses Under Technical Assistance .. ..
120309 Certain Courses to be Granted as Leave Without Pay .. 120310
Post Graduate Courses .. .. .. .. 120311
D
DISCIPLINE
INTRODUCTION
Knowledge of Disciplinary Rules .. .. .. 030101
Authority and Delegation .. .. .. .. 030102
Delegated Powers .. .. .. .. .. 030103
GENERAL INEFFICIENCY
Definition .. .. .. .. .. .. 030201
Drawing Attention to Shortcoming .. .. .. 030202
Removal for General Inefficiency .. .. .. 030203
Performance of Duties .. .. .. .. 030204
Removal of Temporary Staff Inefficiency .. .. 030205
Withholding of increment: Delegated Powers .. 030206
Withholding of increment: Non Delegated Powers .. 030206
Notification of Defects .. . .. .. 030207
Effective Date of Termination for Inefficiency .. 030208
MISCONDUCT
Definition .. .. .. .. .. .. 030301
Issuing Query .. .. .. .. .. 030302
Recommendations of Tribunals Enquiry .. .. 030303
Reporting Misconduct .. .. .. .. 030304
Disciplinary Procedure for Misconduct and
Serious Misconduct .. .. .. .. 030305
D - continued
Postponement of Disciplinary Proceedings .. .. 030306
Notification in Writing .. .. .. .. 030307
Working for Institutions or Government Agencies
during Office Hours .. .. .. .. 030308
Fines .. .. .. .. .. .. 030309
Powers to Surcharge .. .. .. .. 030310
Money Lending .. .. .. .. .. 030311
Hawking Merchandise on Duty .. .. .. 030312
Dress Code .. .. .. .. .. 030313
Unofficial Testimonials .. .. .. .. 030314
SERIOUS MISCONDUCT
Definition .. .. .. .. .. .. 030401
Example .. .. .. .. .. .. 030402
Procedure .. .. .. .. .. .. 030403
Interdiction .. .. .. .. .. 030404
Responsibility of Interdicted Officer .. .. .. 030405
Suspension .. .. .. .. .. 030406
Dismissal and its Effects .. .. .. .. 030407
Effective Date of Dismissal .. .. .. .. 030408
Officer to Report Criminal Charge and its Outcome 030409/030410
Effect of Criminal Proceedings .. .. .. 030411
Suspension of Convicted Officers .. .. .. 030412
Absence Without Leave .. .. .. .. 030413
Serious Financial Embarrassment .. .. .. 030414
Oath of Secrecy .. .. .. .. .. 030415
Unauthorized Disclosure of Official Information.. 030416
Abstraction or Copying of Official Documents.. .. 030417
Secret Personal Records .. .. .. .. 030418
Removal of Public Records .. .. .. .. 030419
Removal of Historical Documents .. .. .. 030420
Publication and Public Utterances .. .. .. 030421
Political Activities .. .. .. .. .. 030422
Resignation before Seeking Elective Office .. .. 030423
Investments .. .. .. .. .. 030424
Prohibition of Private Practice .. .. .. 030425
D - continued
Mineral Discoveries .. .. .. .. 030426
Seeking Influence of Prominent Persons .. .. 030427
Posting and Residence .. .. .. .. 030428
Paid Appointment During Leave .. .. .. 030429
Private Agency .. .. .. .. .. 030430
Statement on Appointment .. .. .. .. 030431
Borrowing Money .. .. .. .. .. 030432
Presents in Recognition of Service .. .. .. 030433
Gifts from Traditional Rulers .. .. .. 030433
Prohibition of Bribery and Corruption .. .. 030434
CONDUCT PREJUDICIAL TO THE SECURITY OF THE STATE
Conduct Prejudicial to State Security .. .. 030501
E
EMOLUMENTS AND INCREMENT
Payment of Salaries .. .. .. .. 040101
Emoluments on Appointment .. .. .. 040102
Emoluments on Transfer from other Government .. 040103
Emoluments on Promotion within Incremental Scales.. 040104
INCREMENT RULES
Definition .. .. .. .. .. .. 040201
Earned Increments .. .. .. .. 040202
DEFERRING AND WITHHOLDING OF INCREMENTS
Incremental Date .. .. .. .. .. 040203
Ground for Withholding or Deferring .. .. 040204
Deferred Increment .. .. .. 040205/040207
Withheld Increment .. .. .. 040206/040207
Special Increments to Mitigate Lasting Effect of
Withheld Increment .. .. .. .. 040208
EXAMINATION IN LAW AND OFFICIAL PUBLICATIONS
GENERAL
Compulsory Confirmation Examination .. .. 060101
E - continued
COMBINED CONFIRMATION/PROMOTION EXAMINATION
Responsibility for Conduct and Supervision of Examinations060201
Examination Board .. .. .. .. .. 060202
Failure to Pass Confirmation Examination .. .. 060203
Failure to take Confirmation Examination .. .. 060204
Time of Holding Confirmation Examinations .. .. 060205
Use of Text Books at Confirmation Examination .. 060206
Reference Books Allowed to be used in Confirmation
Examination .. .. .. 060207/060208/060809
COMPULSORY EXAMINATIONS FOR EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Officers Who are Required to pass .. .. .. 060301
Syllabuses of Examination .. .. .. .. 060302
COMPULSORY EXAMINATION FOR ADMINISTRATIVE
OFFICERS AND PROFESSIONALS
Officers Required to Pass .. .. .. .. 060401
FEES FOR INVIGILATORS AND EXAMINERS
Examination fees .. .. .. .. .. 060501
F
FREE TRANSPORT FACILITIES WITHIN NIGERIA
DEFINITIONS AND GENERAL
Definitions .. .. .. .. .. .. 110101
GENERAL - ECONOMY IN USE OF TRANSPORT
Necessity for Journey .. .. .. .. 110102
Choice of Route .. .. .. .. .. 110103
AUTHORITY FOR USE OF TRANSPORT
How Given .. .. .. .. .. 110104
Must be Specific and not Exceed Approved Scales .. 110105
Free Transport facilities not Transferable .. .. 110106
Transport of Orderlies or Personal Attendants .. 110107
F - continued
FREE TRANSPORT FACILITIES AVAILABLE
General .. .. .. .. .. .. 110201
TYPES OF JOURNEY
Duty Journeys .. .. .. 110202
Journeys to New Station .. .. .. .. 110203
Free Transport Facilities Available for Duty Journeys .. 110204
Transport of Motor Vehicle and Auto Cycle for Repair.. 110205
Free Transport for Motor Vehicles and Motor/Autocycle .. 110206
MISCELLANEOUS RULES REGARDING FREE TRANSPORT
FACILITIES
Extra-Equipment .. .. .. .. .. 130301
I
INVENTIONS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE
Functions .. .. .. .. .. .. 140102
Procedure .. .. .. .. .. .. 140103
Provisional Protection of Inventions .. .. .. 140104
CONTROLLING RIGHTS IN PATENTS
Government’s Opinion .. .. .. .. 140105
Rules Applicable when the Officer is Allowed
Controlling Rights .. .. .. .. .. 140106
Rules Applicable when the Officer is not Allowed
Controlling Rights .. .. .. .. .. 140107
AWARDS AND SHARE OF COMMERCIAL PROCEEDS
Determination .. .. .. .. .. 140108
Modification .. .. .. .. .. 140109
Secrecy .. .. .. .. .. 140110
L
LEAVE
GENERAL
Definitions .. .. .. .. .. .. 100101
Leave Address .. .. .. .. .. 100102
Earned Leave .. .. .. .. .. 100103
L - continued
Leave Earning Service .. .. .. .. 100104
Date of Resumption .. .. .. .. 100105
Leave Year .. .. ... .. .. 100106
TYPES OF LEAVE
Types of leave .. .. .. .. .. 100201
Annual Leave .. .. .. .. .. 100202 Annual Leave Entitlement .. .. .. .. 100203
Qualifying Period for Annual Leave .. .. .. 100203
Annual Leave Roster .. .. .. .. 100204
Normal Grant of Annual Leave .. .. .. 100205
Annual Leave Abroad .. .. .. .. 100206
Leave Address .. .. .. .. .. 100207
Date of Resumption .. .. .. .. 100208
Curtailment of Leave .. .. .. .. 100209
Procedure on return from Leave .. .. .. 100210
Proportionate Leave .. .. .. .. 100211
Officer Entitled to Pro-rata Leave .. .. .. 100212
Deferred Leave .. .. .. .. .. 100213
Casual Leave .. .. .. .. .. 100214
Qualified period for Casual Leave .. .. .. 100215
Sick Leave .. .. .. .. .. 100216
Maternity Leave .. .. .. .. .. 100217
Sixteen Weeks Maternity Leave .. .. .. 100218
Time off for Nursing Mothers .. .. .. 100219
Leave for Compulsory Examination .. .. .. 100220
Leave for Non-compulsory Examination .. .. 100221
Sabbatical Leave .. .. .. .. .. 100222
Study Leave .. .. .. .. .. 100223
Types of Study Leave .. .. .. .. 100224
In-Service Training .. .. .. .. 100225
Study Leave with Pay .. .. .. .. 100226
Study Leave without Pay .. .. .. .. 100227
Conditions for Study Leave without Pay .. .. 100228
Leave for Religious Purposes .. .. .. 100229
Leave on Compassionate Ground .. .. .. 100230
Leave of Absence .. .. .. .. .. 100231
L - continued
Types of Absence .. .. .. .. .. 100232
Leave of Absence to Join Spouse on Course of
Instruction Abroad .. .. .. .. .. 100233
Special Leave of Absence to Join Spouse on
Ground of Public Policy .. .. .. .. 100234
Leave of Absence for Technical Aid Corps Programme.. 100235
Leave of Absence for Special or Personal Assistants .. 100236
Leave of Absence for spouses of President, Vice President,
Governors and Deputy Governors .. .. .. 100237
Three Months Pre-Retirement Leave .. .. 100238
Leave on Permanent Invalidation .. .. .. 100239
Overstaying Leave .. .. .. .. .. 100240
Dismissal .. .. .. .. .. .. 100241
Leave to be on Calendar Days .. .. .. 100242
Leave Inclusive of Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays 100243
Discharging Duty During Vacation Leave Away from
Normal Place of Residence .. .. .. ..
120202
Refund of Daily Travelling Expenses Abroad .. .. 120203
M
MEDICAL AND DENTAL PROCEDURES-MEDICAL TREATMENT
GENERAL
Definitions .. .. .. .. .. .. 070101
Medical Examination in Service .. .. .. 070102
Medical Documents to be treated as Confidential .. 070103
Medical Examination on Appointment .. .. 070104
Special Medical Tests .. .. .. .. 070105
Medical Test for Officer on Leave-of-Absence .. 070106
Procedure .. .. .. .. .. .. 070107
Leave to Visit Medical Specialist/Dentist .. .. 070108
FACILITIES FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT
Government Facilities in Nigeria .. .. .. 070201
Patient Bears Expenses .. .. .. .. 070202
Officers Embarked as Invalid .. .. .. 070203
Officer Falling Seriously ill on Voyage to or From Nigeria .. 070204
Medical Expenses during Overseas Leave or on Duty .. 070205
M - continued
Medical Treatment Overseas .. .. .. 070206
Condition for Spouse accompanying Ailing Officer .. 070206
ABSENCE FROM DUTY ON ACCOUNT OF ILLNESS
Notice to Employer .. .. .. .. .. 070301
Responsibility of Health Care Provider .. .. 070302
Seeking Medical Attention for Sick Officer .. .. 070303
Private Medical Practitioner’s Report .. .. 070304
Reports to Ministries and Extra-Ministerial Office .. 070305
Duty to Attend Medical Boards and comply
with Recommendations .. .. .. .. 070306
RESPONSIBILITIES OF MINISTRIES/EXTRA MINISTERIAL
OFFICES
Who is Responsible .. .. .. .. 070307
Recording of Addresses .. .. .. .. 070308
Enquiries about Absentees .. .. .. .. 070309
Reporting of Staff’s Sickness ... .. .. 070310
Instructions to Staff Reporting Sick .. .. .. 070311
Appointment of Medical Board .. .. .. 070312
RESPONSIBILITY OF HEALTHCARE PROVIDER
When Patient attends in Person .. .. .. 070313
SICK LEAVE RULES
Patient Unable to Attend .. .. .. .. 070314
When Patient Send Private Practitioner’s Report .. 070315
Aggregate Sick Leave .. .. .. .. 070316
Invalidating .. .. .. .. .. 070317
Sick Leave Rules .. .. .. .. .. 070318
DEATH BENEFITS
Death of an Officer/Spouse Overseas .. .. 070401
Death of a Serving Pensionable Officer .. .. 070402
P
PETITIONS AND APPEALS
GENERAL
Procedure .. .. .. .. .. .. 090101
Petition to Head of Government .. .. .. 090102
PETITION RULES
Definition .. .. .. .. .. .. 090201
Application .. .. .. .. .. 090202
Outside influence .. .. .. .. .. 090203
Routing of Petition .. .. .. .. .. 090204
Number of Copies .. .. .. .. .. 090205
Identity of Petitioner .. .. .. .. 090206
Petition submitted on behalf of an Illiterate Person .. 090207
Disqualifications .. .. .. .. .. 090208
Delay to be Explained .. .. .. .. 090208
Conclusion of Petition .. .. .. .. 090209
PROMOTION
Eligibility .. .. .. .. .. .. 020701
Procedure .. .. .. .. .. .. 020702
From Junior to Senior Post .. .. .. .. 020703
Effective Date .. .. .. .. .. 020704
From One Junior Post to Another .. .. .. 020705
National Promotions .. .. .. .. 020706
Advancement during Probationary Period .. .. 020707
Promotion of a Contract Officer .. .. .. 020708
R
REWARD FOR OUTSTANDING WORK
Definition .. .. .. .. .. .. 150101
Basis of Awards .. .. .. .. .. 150102
Frequency of Awards .. .. .. .. 150103
Nature of Awards .. .. .. .. .. 150104
Procedure for Selection .. .. .. .. 150105 Unique Acts .. .. .. .. .. 150106
Certificate of Merit .. .. .. .. .. 150107
R - continued
APPLICATION OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE RULES TO FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT PARASTATALS
GENERAL
Definition .. .. .. .. .. 160101/160102
Existing Rules/Conditions of Service .. .. 160103
BOARDS/COUNCIL MATTERS
Functions of Boards/Council .. .. .. .. 160201
Privileges of Members of Board .. .. .. 160202
APPOINTMENTS AND PROMOTION
Authority for Appointment .. .. .. .. 160301
Appointment .. .. .. .. .. 160302
Authority to Approve Promotion .. .. .. 160303
Eligibility for Promotion .. .. .. .. 160304
LEAVING THE SERVICE
Leaving the Service .. .. .. .. 160401
DISCIPLINE
Authority to Discipline .. .. .. .. 160501
General Application .. .. .. .. 160502
Application to the Para-Military .. .. .. 160503
PETITIONS AND APPEALS
Petition to Head of Government .. .. .. 160601
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
SECTION 1 – PROTECTION OF OFFICIAL INFORMATION, ETC.
SECTION 2 – PROTECTION OF DEFENCE ESTABLISHMENT, ETC.
SECTION 3 – RESTRICTIONS ON PHOTOGRAPHY, ETC. DURING
PERIODS OF EMERGENCY.
SECTION 4 – CONTROL OF MAIL FORWARDING AGENCIES, ETC.
SECTION 5 – POWER TO REQUIRE INFORMATION AS TO
OFFENCES UNDER THIS ACT.
SECTION 6 – SEARCH WARRANTS.
SECTION 7 – PENALTIES AND LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.
SECTION 8 – SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS AS TO OFFENCES.
SECTION 9 – INTERPRETATION, ETC.
SECTION 10- SHORT TITLE, EXTENT AND REPEAL.
An Act To Make Further Provision For Securing Public Safety: And For Purposes Connected Therewith.
1962.N.29
{13th September, 1962}
BE IT ENACTED by this Legislature of the Federation in this present Parliament assembled and by the
authority of the same as follows:
1. –(1) Subject to subsection (3) of this section, a person who -
(a) transmits any classified matter to a person to whom he
is not authorized on behalf of the government to transmit it, or
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
010101. – It shall be the duty of every officer to acquaint himself/herself with the Public Service Rules,
other regulations and extant circulars. These Public Service Rules apply to all officers except where they
conflict with specific terms approved by the Federal Government and written into the contract of
employment or letters of appointment. In so far as the holders of the offices of:
The President;
The Vice President;
Chief Justice of Nigeria;
Justices of the Supreme Court;
President and Justice of the Court of Appeal;
Chief Judge and Judges of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory;
Grand Khadi and Khadis of the Sharia Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory;
President and Judges of the Customary Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory;
The Chairman and Members of the following statutory bodies, namely:
The Code of Conduct Bureau;
The Federal Civil Service Commission;
The Independent National Electoral Commission;
The Federal Character Commission;
The Code of Conduct Tribunal;
The Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission;
The National Population Commission;
The Police Service Commission;
The Auditor-General of the Federation;
and any other similar organs that derive their appointments from the Constitution of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria are concerned, these Rules apply only to the extent that they are not inconsistent
with the
provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in so far as their conditions of service
and any other law applicable to these officers are concerned.
010102. – The special meanings with which various words and terms are used for the purpose of
particular chapters and sections in these Public Service Rules are quoted at the beginning of such
Chapters or Sections.
010103. – Except where otherwise indicated by the context or in special definitions for particular
chapters the following words and terms are used with the following meanings wherever they occur in
these Public Service Rules.
“Accredited Representative of the Federal Republic of Nigeria” means the Diplomatic or Consular
Representative of the Federal Republic of Nigeria within the area.
“Emolument” is the total remuneration package as conveyed in the letter of appointment.
“Child” (of a Public Servant) means a child who:
(a) is under the age of 18 years; and
(b) (i) is the officer’s biological offspring or
(ii) the officer’s step-child being the biological offspring of a spouse of the officer; or
(iii) a child adopted by the officer in accordance with
any statutory provision; and
(c) is entirely dependent on the officer.
“Civil Service” is a body or organ which enjoys continuity of existence. Essentially, it covers Ministries
and Extra-Ministerial Offices.
“Classified Correspondence” means correspondence which has been graded Restricted, Confidential,
Secret or Top Secret.
“Established Post” means a post provided for under the Personal Emoluments sub-head of the
estimates.
“Gazette” means the Federal Republic of Nigeria Official Gazette.
“General Executive Cadre”: Comprises officers holding post of:
Chief Executive Officer, G.L. 14
Assistant Chief Executive Officer, G.L. 13
Principal Executive Officer I, G.L. 12
Principal Executive Officer II, G.L. 10
Senior Executive Officer G.L. 09
Higher Executive Officer, G.L. 08
Executive Officer, G.L. 07
Assistant Executive Officer, G.L. 06
It also includes officers holding corresponding ‘Executive” posts, e.g. Executive Officer (Accounts).
“Head of Department” means a Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra-Ministerial Office.
“Junior Officer” means a pensionable officer on G.L. 06 and below.
“Junior Posts” are posts in Ministries/Extra Ministerial Offices attracting emoluments on Grade Level 06
and below.
“Ministry” includes Extra-Ministerial Offices.
“Monthly-Rated” means employment on monthly rates of pay.
“Nigerian Home Place” means the place in Nigeria accepted in writing by Government as the place to
which a staff would naturally wish to return when spending his leave in Nigeria.
“Nigerian Officer” means an officer other than an expatriate.
“Officer” when used without qualification means staff in an established post, either on pensionable, or
contract terms.
“Expatriate Officer” means a staff who ranks as such for the purpose of pension in accordance with the
Pension Reform Act 2004.
“Secretarial Pool” is a pool of stenographic officers for posting to any Ministry or Extra-Ministerial
Office as required. It is controlled by the Permanent Secretary, Public Service Officer, Office of the Head
of Service of the Federation.
“Senior Posts” are posts attracting emoluments on Grade Level G.L. 07 and above and other posts
attracting fixed emoluments of equivalent Grade Levels in Ministries/Extra-Ministerial Offices.
“Staff” means a person employed by the Federal Government.
“Temporary Officer” means a staff employed temporarily in an established post on non-pensionable
terms.
“Trainee” means a person appointed to a training post in any grade; it includes “pupil”.
“Wife/Husband (of an officer)” means a spouse married under the Marriage Act, Customary Law or
Islamic Law.
“Interdiction” When a serious case that may lead to dismissal has been instituted against an officer, the
Permanent Secretary may interdict and place him on half pay pending the determination of the case.
“Suspension” When disciplinary proceeding for a criminal case has been instituted or is about to be
instituted against an officer, he shall be suspended from office without salary pending the
determination of the case.
010104. – Nothing in these Public Service Rules shall be construed as limiting the powers of the Federal
Government to amend or revoke any of its provisions at any time.
010105. – Notwithstanding that throughout the Public Service Rules the terms ‘Officer’ and ‘Staff are
referred to in the masculine gender, the provisions of the Rules apply equally to Female Public Servants.
010106. – A copy of the Public Service Rules shall form part of the inventory of items in all offices of the
Public Service.
CHAPTER 2
APPOINTMENTS AND LEAVING THE SERVICE
SECTION 1 – GENERAL
SECTION 2 – APPOINTMENT
SECTION 3 – RULES FOR APPOINTMENT ON PROBATION
SECTION 4 – RULES FOR APPOINTMENT ON CONTRACT
SECTION 5 – TRANSFERS AND SECONDMENTS
SECTION 6 – ACTING APPOINTMENT
SECTION 7 – PROMOTIONS
SECTION 8 – LEAVING THE SERVICE
SECTION 9 – CERTIFICATES OF SERVICE
SECTION 1. – GENERAL
020101. – Appointments to public offices in the Federal Civil Service are made on the authority of the
Federal Civil Service Commission. These appointments are made either:
(a) by letter written under the direction of the Federal Civil Service Commission; or
(b) by formal agreement between the officer and the
Federal Government or its appointed agents. Subject to Rules 020205, 020206 and 020207, Permanent
Secretaries/Heads of Extra-Ministerial Officers are authorized to appoint eligible candidates to posts in
respect of which the powers of appointment have been delegated to them.
020102. – (i) The Federal Civil Service Commission shall make appointment to posts graded G.L. 12-17.
Such appointment shall be made as the need arises into the available vacancies after advertisement.
Officers intending to transfer their service shall take part in the annual Public Service Examinations for
post GLS 07-10.
(ii) Subject to modalities to be prescribed by the Federal Civil Service Commission from time to time,
each Ministry/Extra-Ministerial Office shall select from the pool of successful candidates at the Civil
Service Examination prescribed in Rule 020102.
(iii) This shall be handled by the appropriate committees of each Ministry with the representatives of
the Federal Civil Service Commission and Head of the Civil Service of the Federation at the meeting of
the committees.
(iv) There shall be an annual competitive Civil Service Entry Examination for posts graded GL. 07-10 for
new entrants and serving Officers wishing to transfer from other scheduled services. This examination
shall be conducted by the Federal Civil Service Commission in conjunction with the Office of the Head of
Civil Service of the Federation, Administrative Staff College of Nigeria, and the Public Service Institute of
Nigeria.
(v) To qualify for this examination candidates must possess an Honours Degree or Higher National
Diploma not below upper credit in relevant disciplines as provided for in the Schemes of Service. Final
recommendation shall be made by the Ministries/Extra Ministerial Offices in line with their
requirements.
020103. – (a) Each Ministry/Extra-Ministerial Office shall appoint Junior Staff on GL. 06 and below. This
shall be handled by the Junior Staff Committee of each Ministry/Office, with a representative of the
Federal Civil Service Commission and the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation at any meeting of
the committee, subject to the approval of the Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra Ministerial Offices.
(b) Appointment in the Federal Ministries/Extra-Ministerial
Offices in the States shall be from the residents of that State who possess the qualifications prescribed
in the approved Schemes of Service;
(c) Each Ministry/Extra-Ministerial Office shall work out the actual establishment or requirements for
each State Office. The Junior Staff Committee (Local) shall conduct the interview to appoint the officers,
subject to approval of the Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra Ministerial offices.
020104. – Promotions to all post in the Federal Public Service other than those of Permanent Secretaries
are vested in the Federal Civil Service Commission which, has however, authorized Permanent
Secretary/Head of Extra Ministerial offices to promote eligible candidates to posts in respect of which
the powers of appointment have been delegated.
020105. – The incremental date of an officer appointed or promoted to a post in the Federal Civil
Service shall be 1st January of every year provided such officer has spent at least six (6) months on the
Grade with good performance before enjoying the increment.
020106. – Seniority in any department shall be determined by the entry date/the assumption of duty
certified by an authorized officer as reflected in the appropriate register.
020107. – The employment of unpaid staff is prohibited.
020108. – (i) Permanent Secretary/Heads of Extra Ministerial offices shall keep an up-to-date record of
every officer under their control. Staff Record From Gen. 60 shall be used and one copy must be sent to
the Central Staff Records Office in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Office of
the Accountant General of the Federation and Auditor General for the Federation, National Pension
Commission within one month of the appointment. Form Gen 60 shall be completed in ink.
(ii) Date of birth recorded on appointment by an officer
shall not be changed throughout the career of the officer. Any contravention shall be regarded as an act
of serious misconduct.
SECTION 2. – RECRUITMENT
020201. – “Recruitment” means the filling of vacancies by the appointment of persons not already in the
Civil Service of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It, however, excludes the transfer of officers from other
Public Service in the Federation to the Federal Public service.
020202. – Direct appointment to the Federal Public Service may be in any of the following categories:
(a) as trainees or pupils,
(b) on probation in a pensionable post,
(c) on non-pensionable contract to a non-pensionable-
post, or against a pensionable post for a specified period.
(d) acting Appointment.
Where posts prove difficult to fill, they shall normally be advertised.
020203. – (a) Where a candidate for employment requires additional professional experience before he
can be regarded as fully qualified for appointment to a specific post, the candidate may be appointed as
a trainee or pupil for a normal service of two years in the post. This period may however, be reduced in
special circumstances. On completion of the “trainee period” the pupil may be appointed to the full
grade on probation and will not be eligible for confirmation in the service until he/she has fulfilled the
conditions laid down in Rules 020302 where applicable.
(b) A confirmed officer who is advanced to the training
grade for the purpose of acquiring the necessary experience to qualify him/her for substantive
promotion to a senior post will be treated as if he/she had been seconded thereto and the period of
such secondment will not normally exceed the period laid down for the training except with the special
advice of the office of Establishments and Pension.
020204. – Except where the Federal Civil Service Commission decides otherwise, all first appointments
to the pensionable establishment in posts other than trainee post (see Rules 020203) will be on
probation. An officer confirmed in a lower pensionable office will not however be regarded as on
probation in a higher post which he/she is promoted nor will an officer seconded or transferred as
confirmed officer from pensionable service elsewhere.
020205. – To be eligible for appointment into the Federal Public Service, every applicant must:
(a) not be less than 18 years and not more than 50 years of age;
(b) Possess such minimum qualification as may be
specified from time to time including computer literacy;
(c) be certified by an authorized Health Care Provider as
medically fit for Government Service;
(d) possess a testimonial of good conduct from last
employer or if not previously employed, from the last school or college attended; and
(e) possess requisite qualifications as provided for in the
Scheme of service.
(f) No officer shall be appointed into the Public Service
without authorization for appointment from the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation and
supervisory Boards in the case of Parastatals.
020206. – (a) No candidate shall be appointed to any post in the Federal Civil Service without the prior
specific approval of the Federal Civil Service Commission if:
(i) the candidate has been convicted of a criminal offence; or
(ii) he/she has previously been employed in Government
Service and been dismissed or called upon to resign or retire there from. Such approval must always be
obtained irrespective of any delegation of the Commission’s powers.
(b) In view of Rule (a) above, every applicant for employment by Government must state:
(i) whether he/she has been convicted of a criminal offence;
(ii) all employment he/shall has engaged in; and
(a) if he/she has left any employment, why he/she did so; or.
(b) if he/she is still in any employment and whether
he/she is under any obligation to remain in it;
(iii) whether he/she is free from financial embarrassment.
020207. – (a) All applicants for senior posts shall complete form FC.2 to be submitted to the Federal
Civil Service Commission. The Commission shall process these forms and publish short listed names for
the examination prescribed in Rule 020102 (iii).
(b) For appointment to pensionable establishment, Form
No. Gen. 60 should accompany the copy of Form No Gen 69C sent to the Office of the Head of the Civil
Service of the Federation, Offices of the Accountant of the Federation and Auditor-General for the
Federation and National Pension Commission.
020208 – Immediately a newly appointed officer assumes duty, he/she shall be required to enter his/her
personal particulars on Form Gen. 60 (Staff Records Form) a copy of which shall be attached to the
appropriate documents forwarded to the Pension Fund Administrator/National Pension Commission
and other relevant Offices/Departments.
020209 – It is the duty of every Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra Ministerial office to ensure that all
officers/staff in his/her Ministry/Extra Ministerial Office sign an Oath of Secrecy on Security Form 1 and
that the oath so signed are carefully preserved.
020210 – No public officer shall become a member of any secret society. Any public officer who is a
member of such society shall renounce his membership forthwith by making a statutory declaration to
that effect, or resign his appointment, or retire from the service.
020211 – Contravention of Rules 020210 shall be regarded as an act of serious misconduct and shall
attract appropriate disciplinary action which may include dismissal from the service.
SECTION 3 – RULES FOR APPOINTMENT ON PROBATION
020301 – Officers on probation will be required to serve for two years before being confirmed in the
service. This period may however be reduced to not less than six months by deduction of any previous
period of Civil Service rendered satisfactorily in posts of cognate status involving similar duties. The
period of probation shall not exceed two years unless an extension is approved by the Federal Civil
Service Commission; such extension may result in the incremental penalty referred to in Rules 040206, if
the Commission so decides.
020302 – Within his probationary period an officer is required to pass the prescribed examination
appropriate to his/her appointment:
(a) For officers holding senior posts, the prescribed
examination are those described in Chapter 6 and such other examination as may be specified in
individual offer of appointment.
(b) For clerical grade officers, the prescribed examination is the promotion/confirmation
examination.
(c) The examinations for technical grades are those
prescribed in the Scheme of Service applicable to the particular post.
020303 – To be eligible for confirmation in the Permanent Establishment, an officer appointed on
probation is required to pass the prescribed examination, if any, during his probationary period and to
complete his probationary period to the satisfaction of the authority empowered to appoint him. At the
end of the period of probation the officer will, unless his probationary appointment is terminated or
extended, be confirmed in his appointment.
020304 – Recommendations of Permanent Secretaries/Heads of Extra-Ministerial Offices regarding the
confirmation of all officers holding senior posts shall be made in the progress report prescribed in
Chapter 5 of the Rules.
SECTION 4 – RULES FOR APPOINTMENT ON CONTRACT
020401 – A contract appointment is a temporary appointment (which does not provide for the payment
of a pension) to a post of the level to which appointment is made by the Federal Civil Service
Commission for a specific period as opposed to appointment on pensionable terms and temporary
employment. A contract appointment must be recorded in a formal document of agreement.
020402 - (a) The conditions of service of a contract officer are those provided for in his/her contract and
the privileges, emoluments or allowance described in these Rules do not apply to him/her unless they
are specifically so stated in the contract itself. Any question of the interpretation of a contract affecting
his/her conditions of service should be referred to the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the
Federation.
(b) (i) Contract appointments may be offered to expatriates only when suitable Nigerians are not
available. Nigerians may be appointed on contract terms if:
(a) they are pensioners;
(b) they are 50 years age or over at the time they are being appointed;
(c) they specifically request to be employed on contract
terms and it is deemed in the best interest of the service; and
(d) the candidate possesses specialized competencies or
skills and provided such posts are duly advertised in at least three national newspapers.
(ii) For non-Nigerians, the provisions of the Public Service Rules regarding contract appointments shall
apply in all cases, except for those persons married to Nigerians. (See Appendix 1).
(iii) Spouses married to Nigerians should remain on contract until granted Nigerian citizenship before
being considered for permanent appointment. (See Appendix 1).
020403 – The duration of a contract appointment is limited to the period specified in the contract itself
and any further employment of the officer concerned must be made subject of a new contract.
020404 – (a) An appointment on contract may be terminated by the Government at any time in
accordance with the terms specified in the contract itself. A recommendation to the Federal Civil Service
Commission for the termination of the appointment of a contract officer shall be accompanied by a full
statement of the consideration which has prompted it. On receipt of the recommendation, the Federal
Civil Service Commission will decide in its discretion whether the appointment should be terminated
forthwith in accordance with the terms of the contract or whether the officer should be offered an
opportunity, to submit any formal representation if he/she so wishes before a final decision is taken.
(b) The termination of a contract appointment by the holder is subject to the terms of the contract and
any question concerning the waiving of any of the penalty under a contract agreement shall be referred
to the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.
020405 – An officer serving on contract who desire re-engagement, shall so inform the government in
writing through the Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra Ministerial offices not less than four months
before his/her leave is due. In the absence of such notification it may be assumed that an officer serving
on contract does not desire re-engagement.
020406 – On receipt of such notification expressing an officer’s wish to be re-engaged,
the Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra Ministerial office will obtain the consent of the Office of the
Head of Civil Service of the Federation to the re-engagement before forwarding recommendation to the
Federal Civil Service Commission enclosing an up-to-date confidential report on the officer (unless such
report has been forwarded within the previous two months). In reply, the Permanent Secretary/Head of
Extra Ministerial office will receive any of the following:-
(a) authority to inform the officer that arrangements will
be made to offer him re-engagement during the course of his leave, and the details of the terms
proposed. The Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra Ministerial office shall inform the officer accordingly
without delay.
(b) the original and duplicate of the re-engagement
contract duly signed on behalf of government. In this
case, the Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra Ministerial office shall obtain the officer’s witnessed
signature to both copies, deliver the duplicate to the officer, and return the original to the Officer of the
Head of Civil Service of the Federation.
020407 – As soon as it is clear to a Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra Ministerial office that he/she will
be unable for whatever reasons, to recommend the re-engagement of an officer serving on contract, he
will seek the approval of the Federal Civil Service Commission to inform the officer that he/she will not
be re-engaged and, on receipt of such approval, will inform the officer without delay.
020408 – Provided re-engagement is completed by the signing of a new contract before the end of
vacation leave granted under an expiring contract, service under the new contract will be treated as
continuous.
020409 – If a re-engaged contract officer is required to return to duty under his new contract before the
expiration of the leave due under the former contract, the leave forgone will be treated as deferred
leave to be enjoyed under the conditions of the new contract.
020410 – When an officer on contract is re-engaged in his/her former office without a break in service
and on the same emoluments, he will retain the incremental date enjoyed under his/her former
contract. In other cases of re-engagement without break in service, the incremental date of a re-
engaged contract officer will be fixed in accordance with such rules as may be applicable in the
circumstance on the basis that the commencing date of the new contract is the date on which he/she
resumes duty thereunder.
020411 – Retired officers may only be re-engaged into career posts on grade levels immediately below
that on which they retired.
020412 – Reference should be made to Rule 020708.
SECTION 5 – TRANSFERS AND SECONDMENTS
020501 – (a) Transfer is the permanent release of an office from one scheduled service to another or
from one class to another within the same service.
(b) Secondment means the temporary release of the officer to the service of another Government,
approved body or any recognized International Organization or body for a specified period.
020502 – Inter Service Transfer/Secondment:
The following procedures shall apply in processing inter-service transfer and secondment:
(i) Applications for Transfer/Secondment to posts grade
G.L. 06 and below shall be determined by the Ministry/Extra-Ministerial Office of the applicant’s choice.
(ii) Application for Transfer/Secondment to post graded
GL.07 -10 in any Ministry/Extra-Ministerial Office shall be determined by the Federal Civil Service
Commission. Officers seeking transfer from scheduled establishments Salary GL. 07-10 are required to
sit for the Annual Competitive Civil Service Entry Examination.
(iii) Confidential reports covering the last three years (or
whole service if less than three years) of the officer’s service shall be furnished.
(iv) Secondment of an officer to the service of another
Government, or Approved Body or recognized International Organization at his own request shall be for
a maximum period of two years in the first instance after which the officer must apply for extension,
seek for transfer or return to his former post. All extensions must be approved by the appropriate
Committees and the Federal Civil Service Commission. The total period of such secondment must not
exceed four (4) years
(v) If it is the public interest to second an officer to the
service of another Government, approved body or recognized International Organization, the period
of secondment shall not be limited and the officer shall continue to hold his substantive post and be
entitled to increment and promotion and will be treated as having been posted on special duty.
(vi) During the period of such Secondment the benefiting
Organization shall be responsible for the officer’s emoluments.
020503 – (a) Senior Posts – Transfers from one senior post to another or from one
class to another within the Federal Public Service require the prior approval of the Federal Civil Service
Commission and an officer must have served for a minimum period of 6 months in his original
Department before seeking transfer to another Department. An application for such transfer must be
submitted to the Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra Ministerial office of the applicant and must state
the applicant’s reasons for desiring a transfer and his qualifications for the work to be undertaken. Such
application should be forwarded to the Federal Civil Service Commission by the Permanent
Secretary/Head of Extra Ministerial office together with a statement as to:
(i) how the applicant has performed his/her duties;
(ii) whether the applicant is considered to be well qualified
for the post desired;
(iii) recommendations as to the grant or refusal of the
application.
(b) Junior Posts – Transfers from one junior post to another
within the Federal Public Service or from one Department to another may be arranged, with the consent
of the officers being considered for transfer, at the mutual discretion of their Permanent Secretary/Head
of Extra Ministerial offices.
020504 – To be eligible for transfer from the post of Clerical Assistant to the Clerical Officer Grade, an
officer must have:
(a) obtained the full minimum educational qualifications
for direct appointment to the Clerical Officer Grade; or
(b) passed the Clerical Confirmation/Promotion test at
promotion level.
020505 – The emoluments and incremental date at which a Clerical Assistant enters the Scale of the
Clerical Officer Grade on transfer is governed by Rule 040103.
020506 – (i) No applicant shall be considered for transfer-on-promotion to any Ministry/Extra-
Ministerial Office except in response to an advertised post.
(i) An applicant shall be considered for transfer:
(a) if he/she has been confirmed in his previous service
and his qualifications, experience and career progression are in accordance with the Scheme of service
of the grade;
(b) provided the contemplated transfer would in no
way jeopardize the promotion prospects of serving officers.
(c) where the Ministry is satisfied that there are
vacancies not only in the relevant grade but also in the applicant’s discipline or area of specialty;
(d) if he has served in his current grade for the
stipulated minimum number of years prescribed for promotion to an advertised post.
(ii) Posting of officers within the Ministry to posts outside
their professional cadres is prohibited.
SECTION 6 – ACTING APPOINTMENT
020601– Where it is necessary that a particular duty post (of status not lower than Senior Clerical
Officer) should continue to be filled at a time when no officer of corresponding substantive rank is
available for posting thereto, some other officer may, with the approval of the Federal Civil Service
Commission, be formally appointed, by notice in the gazette, to act in the duty post and assume either
fully or in part, the duties and responsibilities thereof.
020602 – The mere fact that the substantive holder of a duty post will be absent therefrom
for a short period (e.g. on casual leave or on sick leave) does not in itself justify an acting appointment;
there may however be circumstances (such as compliance with statutory provisions) which necessitate
the making of an acting appointment for a relatively brief period. The decision whether an acting
appointment is necessary or desirable in any particular case will rest with the Federal Civil Service
Commission.
020603 – Acting appointments are not intended as a means of testing the suitability of officers for
promotion; they will normally be made only in order to fill posts that are temporarily vacant and their
duration should be limited accordingly.
020604 – Recommendations for acting appointments must be forwarded to the Federal Civil Service
Commission on General Form 66 and must include thereon a certificate to the effect that the acting
officer will assume the full duties and responsibilities of the post in question. Approved acting
appointment will be gazetted by the Federal Civil Service Commission but it will on no account be back-
dated to a period in excess of six months of the date of receipt of the recommendation by the
Commission.
020605 – The date on which an acting appointment commences will be indicated in the gazette notice
authorizing the appointment. Normally the gazette date of commencement will be that on which the
acting officer takes over the duties and responsibilities of the post, except that if he takes over from the
substantive holder the gazetted date of commencement will not be earlier than that on which the latter,
after handing over:
(a) leaves the station or the post
(b) takes over substantively or himself commences to
act in another post in the same station, or
(c) commences vacation leave in the same station,
whichever is applicable according to circumstances.
020606 – The date on which an acting appointment cases will be indicated in the gazette
notice reverting the officer’s appointment. Normally, the gazetted date of cessation will be that on
which the acting officer relinquishes the duties and responsibilities of the post, except that if he hands
over to the substantive holder, the gazetted date of cessation will not normally be later than the date on
which the later, before taking over:
(a) arrives the station,
(b) ceases to hold substantively, or act in another post in the same station,
(c) ceases vacation leave in the same station, whichever is
applicable according to circumstances; and
(d) ministries shall be required to notify the Federal Civil
Service Commission when officers revert from acting appointments by completion of Form No Gen.15A
which shall be forwarded not less than two weeks before cessation of the acting appointment.
020607 – An acting officer will not be regarded as relinquishing the duties and responsibilities of his
acting appointment by proceeding on casual or special leave within the country, provided he spends
such leave in Nigeria (or on a sea voyage between Nigerian ports) and provided it is not necessary during
any such leave to appoint another officer to act in the duty post in question.
SECTION 7 – PROMOTION
020701 – (a) Except where powers of appointment or promotion have been delegated, no
promotion shall become effective until they have been approved by the Federal Civil Service
Commission.
(b) All officers who fall within the field of selection for any
promotion exercise shall be considered except those who are under disciplinary action. The minimum
number of years that an officer must spend in a post before being considered eligible for promotion
shall be as follows:
Grade Level of Staff Number of Years in Post
06 and below Minimum of 2 years.
07-14 Minimum of 3 years.
15-17 Minimum of 4 years.
(c) Promotion shall be made strictly on the basis of
competitive merit from amongst all eligible candidates.
(i) In assessing the merit of officers, a clear distinction
shall be made between their records of performance or efficiency in lower grades and their potential for
promotion, i.e. ability and competence to perform the duties and responsibilities of the higher post
efficiently.
(ii) Seniority and previous records of performance will be
taken into account in choosing between candidates with equal potential for promotion.
(iii) In all cases, however, a generally satisfactory record of conduct shall also be considered.
(d) The responsibility for the promotion of officers shall be
as follows:
(i) G.L. 06 and below – by the Ministry/Extra-Ministerial Office.
(ii) G.L.07 – 14 - by the Ministry/Extra-Ministerial Office or
the relevant staff pool subject to confirmation by Federal Civil Service Commission.
(iii) G.L.15-17 – by the Federal Civil Service Commission on
recommendation from Ministry/Extra-Ministerial Office or the relevant pool routed through the Head of
the Civil Service.
(e) Promotions are subject to satisfying minimum requirements declared by Federal Civil Service
Commission and availability of vacancies.
020702 – Before each promotion exercise, the appropriate office shall compile a list of all eligible
candidates to be considered, the list shall be prepared on the basis of the job requirement or set of
criteria established for the post by the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, e.g.
qualification/experience, age, training, performance, etc., as contained in the scheme of service.
Furthermore:
(a) There shall be structured and sustained training for
career progression in the service including continuous professional training and development.
(b) Officers shall qualify for promotion to higher grade
after acquiring the skill and competence as provided in the scheme of service for the particular cadre.
020703 – The appropriate committee shall meet to interview and consider officers holding
junior appointments in the Ministry/Extra-Ministerial Office who may be recommended to the Federal
Civil Service Commission which shall examine the suitability of officers so recommended and offer them
promotion to existing vacancies.
020704 – The effective date of all promotions shall be 1st January of the year for which the promotion
exercise was conducted or as may be determined by the Federal Civil Service Commission.
020705 – Permanent Secretaries/Heads of Extra Ministerial offices shall fill vacancies on posts on GL. 06
and below on the recommendation of the Junior Staff Committee.
020706 – Officers on approved Leave of Absence, Secondment, approved Leave with Pay, Special
Assignment, etc., shall not be granted notional promotion. Such officer shall sit for promotion
interviews/examinations at designated centres nearest to them.
020707 – An Officer who has passed the compulsory examination for confirmation in the service shall be
eligible for promotion notwithstanding the fact that he has not completed the probation period
specified in Rule 020301.
020708 – Under normal circumstances, no contract officer will be considered for promotion except
where there is no suitable pensionable officer available or where he possesses an exceptional
qualification and suitable experience. He could, however, be considered for an enhanced appointed
during the re-negotiation his contract.
SECTION 8 – LEAVING THE SERVICE
020801 – If within his probationary period it is established to the satisfaction of the authority
empowered to appoint an officer that he is not qualified for efficient service, his appointment may be
terminated by that authority at any time without any further compensation than free transport to the
place from which he was engaged and such free transport will be granted only if his conduct has been
good. Provided that termination is not due to misconduct on the officer’s part, it will be effected by
means of a month’s notice and, subject to the same proviso, if the officer is eligible for vacation leave in
respect of his/her service to date, such leave may be granted together with (if the officer so desires)
normal vacation leave transport grant in lieu of the free transport mentioned above. Such leave, if any,
shall be so arranged as to take place within the period of notice and, if possible, to expire on the same
day as the notice. The position regarding the refund of the cost of any training given the officer is
governed by the bond relating to the such training.
020802. – If an officer relinquishes his/her appointment within the period of his/her probationary
service he/she may be required to refund any expenditure by government in transporting him/her,
his/her family, servant and baggage to and from the place at which he/she was employed and he/she
will not be eligible for any facilities from government towards transport from the station at which
he/she was serving. The position regarding the refund of the cost of any training given the officer is
governed by the bond relating to such training.
020803. – The appointment of an officer on probation who fails to secure confirmation in the
pensionable establishment at the expiration of his/her probationary period, including such extension
thereof as prescribed under Rules 020301, may be terminated in the manner specified in Rule 020801.
020804. – (a) An Officer who resigns will be liable to:
(i) forefeet all claims to vacation leave; any vacation leave
or passage privileges granted will be ex-gratia;
(ii) refund to the Government in full any sum of money
which he/she may be owing to Government or which, under the provisions of other Rules or agreements
entered into with Government, is refundable to Government for his/her not discharging the obligations
set out in such agreement; provided that any or all of such refunds may be waived at the discretion of
the Government.
(b) By virtue of the provisions of Regulation 15 of the Pension Reform Act 2004, all
previous pensionable service is forfeited on resignation and cannot be taken into account for pension
purposes if the officer is subsequently re-employed except where, under certain circumstances, such a
break in service has been condoned by the Officer of Establishments and Pension.
020805. – An Officer who leaves the service other than by resignation or dismissal will be eligible for
proportionate leave in accordance with Rules 100211. If he/she has enjoyed more leave during the leave
year than he/she eligible to receive under that Rules, he/she will be required to refund salary at the rate
at which it was paid for the number of working days’ leave enjoyed in excess of what he was eligible to
receive, the days in respect of which salary is refunded being treated as leave without pay for pension
purposes. This provision will be waived in the case of an officer who dies in the service.
020806 – (i) Officers who fail promotion examination on three (3) consecutive attempts on the same
grade and whose on-the-job performance has been assessed to be below average shall be required to
leave the service.
(ii) An Officer whose service is not longer required in the event of abolition of office, re-organisation of
the office or redundancy shall be required to leave the service.
020807 – All Pensionable officers shall participate in the Contributory Pension Scheme as provided for in
the Pension Reform Act, 2004.
020808 – In order to ensure that officers receive their retirement benefits promptly, Departmental
Pension Officers are required to forward the up-to-date record of service of these officers together with
the under-listed documents:
(a) Pension Form Gen. 62 (in duplicate) with two recent
colour passport photographs;
(b) Birth certificate or sworn Declaration of Age;
(c) Record of Service;
(d) Acceptance of retirement letter;
(e) Letter of Appointment or Gazette Publication of First Appointment;
(f) Letter of Confirmation of Appointment or gazette
publication;
(g) Clearance Certificate signed by the Director of Administration/Personnel Management;
(h) Clearance Certificate of Non-Indebtedness signed by the Director of Administration/Personnel
Management;
(i) Evidence of last promotion;
(j) Current Personnel Emolument Card/Last Pay Certificate;
(k) Evidence of Transfer of Service (where applicable);
(l) Evidence of condonation and merger of Service (where
applicable);
(m) Carbon copy of audited computation sheet of terminal
benefits;
(n) Signed payment voucher for receipt of gratuity (if
applicable); and
(o) Stamped Death Certificate (for deceased officers).
020809 – Forwarding of Departmental Files and other documents not expressly mentioned in Rule
020808 shall no longer be a condition for processing of retirements benefits.
020810 – (i) The compulsory retirement age for all grades in the Service shall be 60 years or 35 years of
pensionable service whichever is earlier.
(ii) No officer shall be allowed to remain in service after
attaining the retirement age of 60 years or 35 years of pensionable service whichever is earlier.
(iii) The provision of (i) and (ii) of this Rule is without prejudice to prevailing requirements for Judicial
Officers and Academic Staff of Universities and other tertiary institutions who retire at 70 and 65 years
respectively.
(iv) Provided the officer would not have attained the retirement age of 60 years or spent 35 years of
pensionable service, whichever is earlier:
(a) a Director shall compulsorily retire upon serving eight years on the post; and
(b) a Permanent Secretary shall hold office for a term of
four years and renewable for a further term of four years, subject to satisfactory performance and no
more.
SECTION 9 – CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
020901 – All officers including those on non-pensionable appointments shall be issued, on leaving the
service, Certificate of Service.
020902 – Certificates of Service should be issued to officers holding senior posts on GL.07 and above,
require the countersignature of the Permanent Secretary of the retiring officer, Permanent Secretary,
Federal Civil Service Commission; those to be issued to officers holding junior posts GL.06 and below,
require the countersignature of the Permanent Secretary of the retiring officer and the Permanent
Secretary Establishments and Pension Office.
020903 – The main purpose of a Certificate of Service is that it may be used as a reference covering the
holder’s public service when seeking other employment. Accordingly, a Permanent Secretary/Head of
Extra Ministerial Office shall, when completing a Certificate give in it that information which he himself,
were he in a position of a prospective employer, might fairly expect to obtain from the person who has
previously employed the holder.
020904 – Certificate of Service shall be rendered in triplication on the approved Forms as follows:
For Officers on GL.07 and above – Form Gen. 58;
For Officers on G.L.06 and below – Form Gen. 58A
020905 – Action to complete the issue of a Certificate of Service Should be taken in time for
the Certificate to be handed to the receipt before he proceeds on leave prior to leaving the service. If it
is necessary to include in the Certificate of Service of any Officer any adverse comment on his work or
conduct, the Certificate of Service must be completed and handed to him in time to permit him to make,
before leaving the service, any representations on the subject that he may desire to put forward for
Government’s consideration.
SCHEDULE
1. (i) The term of the engagement of the person engaged is ------- years, commencing from the date of
assumption of duty.
(ii) The term of the engagement shall be deemed to be completed on the date on which any leave
granted to the person engaged in respect of such tour ( ) of service expires.
2. (i) The duties of the person engaged shall include the usual duties of the office to which he/she is
appointed and any other duties which the Government may call upon him/her to perform.
(ii) The person engaged shall reside in such place and occupy himself/herself in such manner as the
Government, through its duly authorized officers, shall direct, and he/she will not, either directly or
indirectly be engaged in or concerned with any other service or business whatsoever or receive
commission or profits of any kind, but will devote the whole of his/her time and attention to the service
of the Government. He/She will conform to the Public Service Regulations of the Government.
3. (i) The term ‘Emoluments” wherever it appears in this Schedule (except in clause 4) shall be
deemed to include contract addition where this is payable under the Agreement.
(ii) Increments of emoluments, if any, shall be calculated as from the first day of the month in which
the person engaged takes up his/her appointment.
(iii) Increments of emoluments shall not be granted unless the efficiency, conduct and diligence of the
person engaged during the year immediately preceding have been satisfactory. An increment shall not
be withheld except on the decision/recommendation to that effect by the Permanent Secretary/Head of
Extra-Ministerial Office.
(iv) The salary of the person engaged may be liable to deduction under clause (8).
4. When travelling on duty away from duty post, the person engaged shall be subject to such
regulations with regard to the provisions of transport and travelling allowance as the Government may
decide.
5. (i) If the person engaged is compelled by reason of ill-health (not caused by his/her own
negligence) to resign his/her appointment, or if at any time it shall be certified by a duly qualified
HealthCare Provider employed by the Government that he/she is incapable by reason of any infirmity of
mind or body of rendering further efficient service, the Government shall pay such salary as may be due
up to the date of such resignation or the date on which a certificate in that respect was issued.
(ii) A certificate of Medical Fitness duly signed by a qualified HealthCare Provider employed by the
Government, shall be conclusive evidence on the question whether or not the person engaged was
compelled to resign his/her appointment by reason of ill-health within the meaning of this clause.
6. If the person engaged shall at any time neglect or refuse or for any cause (except ill-
health not caused by his/her own negligence) become unable to perform any of his/her duties or to
comply with any order, or shall disclose any information in respect of the affairs of the Government to
any unauthorized person, or shall in any manner misconduct himself/herself, the Government may
dismiss him/her, and on such dismissal all rights and advantages reserved to him/her by this Agreement
shall cease.
7. (i) The Government may at any time terminate the engagement of the person engaged by giving
three months’ notice in writing or by paying one month’s salary in lieu of notice.
(ii) The person engaged may, at any time after the expiration of three months of service terminate
his/her engagement by giving Government three months notice in writing, or by paying to the
Government one month’s salary in lieu of notice.
8. In the event of any pecuniary damage arising from the person engaged disregarding or failing to
comply with any order, standing order or departmental instruction or from any neglect of duty
whatsoever on his/her part, he/she may be liable to a deduction from his/her salary to make good the
damage or any part thereof, the amount of which shall be fixed by his/her Permanent Secretary/Head of
Extra-Ministerial Office.
9. Four months before the date of expiration of agreement, the person engaged shall give a written
notice to Government stating desire to remain in its employment and Government shall thereupon
decide whether it will offer him/her further employment. If Government decides in favour,
his/her re-engagement shall be on such terms and for such a period as may be mutually
agreed.
10. The person engaged will be eligible for a gratuity on the satisfactory completion of a tour of service
at the rate of 15% of his/her basic salary, provided that his/her engagement is not terminated as under
clause 7 and provided that he/she not in receipt of, nor eligible for, any other retiring benefits.
11. While leave of absence is not a legal right included in the contract, the person
engaged, after a tour of service, or if declared invalid before completing the tour, or his/her engagement
is terminated by reason of ill-health in accordance with the provisions of clause 5 hereto, leave may be
granted under the rules in force from time to time, applicable to Nigerian officers of a similar grade level
so far as exigencies of the Public Service permit.
CHAPTER 3
DISCIPLINE
SECTION 1 – INTRODUCTION
SECTION 2 – GENERAL INEFFICIENCY
SECTION 3 – MISCONDUCT
SECTION 4 – SERIOUS MISCONDUCT
SECTION 5 – CONDUCT PREJUDICIAL TO SECURITY OF THE STATE
SECTION 6 – RETIREMENT IN PUBLIC INTEREST
SECTION 1 – INTRODUCTION
030101 – It shall be the duty of every officer to acquaint himself/herself with the disciplinary rules and
any other regulations in force. This Chapter shall be read in conjuction with “Guidelines for
Appointments, Promotion and Discipline” published by the Federal Civil Service Commission.
030102 – The Power to dismiss and to exercise disciplinary control over officers in the Federal Public
Service is vested in the Federal Civil Service Commission. This power may be delegated to any member
of the Commission or any officer in the Federal Civil Service.
030103 – The Federal Civil Service Commission has delegated full disciplinary powers to Permanent
Secretaries and Heads of Extra-Ministerial Offices in respect of officers on Salary G.L. 13 and below with
the exception of the power of removal which has been delegated only from G.L.06 and below.
SECTION 2 – GENERAL INEFFICIENCY
030201 – General inefficiency consists of a series of omissions or incompetence, the
cumulative effect of which shows that the officer is not capable of discharging efficiently the duties of
the office he holds.
030202 – It shall be the duty of every superior officer, as soon as he/she observes any fault or
shortcoming in the work of an officer subordinate to him/her, to bring it to the officer’s notice and to
record that this has been done, with a view to improving the officer’s usefulness and efficiency in the
service.
030203 – Before the proceedings for the removal of an officer for general inefficiency may be
commenced, he/she must have been warned on three occasions in writing.
030204 – No female Public servant shall be required to resign her appointment or retire by reason of
pregnancy alone, but if her condition interferes with the efficient performance of her duties, she may at
the discretion of Management be given lighter duties
030205 – Permanent Secretary/Heads of Extra Ministerial offices are authorised, subject to the
provisions of the Labour Act (Cap. 198) and of individual letters of consideration for appointment
(Form Gen.69 and Gen. 69A), to terminate the employment of temporary staff at their discretion
provided that prior to the termination of any such staff the officer has been informed of the grounds on
which it is proposed to terminate his/her appointment and has been given an opportunity to submit
representations on why he or she should not be terminated. Similarly, prior to the termination of an
officer’s service for inefficiency, such officer shall be warned of his/her shortcomings and given an
opportunity to improve or to offer a satisfactory explanation of his//her failure to perform his duties
efficiently.
030206 – (a) Immediately a Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra Ministerial Office, in the exercise of
his/her delegated powers, decided to withhold or defer the increment of an officer, he/she shall so
inform the officer in writing, stating the reason and, in the case of deferment, the period of deferment.
(b) Where the powers are not delegated, and the Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra-Ministerial
Office considers that the increment of an officer should be withheld or deferred he/she shall report the
circumstances and his/her recommendations as to the withholding or period of deferment to the
appropriate committee for a decision. If the decision is that the increment should be withheld or
deferred, the Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra Ministerial Office will thereupon inform the officer in
writing, stating the reason and, in the case of deferment, the period of deferment. If the Committee
decides that the increment should be granted, the Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra Ministerial Office
will take action in accordance with Rule 030307.
(c) In all cases of withholding or deferment of increment,
the Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra Ministerial Office shall inform the Accountant-General of the
Federation and the Auditor-General for the Federation.
030207 – Immediately on deciding to grant an increment despite some defects in the service of an
officer, a Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra Ministerial Office should bring the defect to the notice of
the officer.
030208 – In all cases of termination for inefficiency, notice of termination shall be given. The
period of notice shall be one calendar month unless other period is appropriate in the light of a
particular officer’s terms of service. If it is decided that the officer shall leave the service immediately,
he/she shall be paid emolument equivalent to the period of the notice. The period of notice shall include
any leave to which the officer is entitled. If the leave is longer than the period of notice, the officer shall
be sent on leave and the period of notice absorbed by the leave.
SECTION 3 – MISCONDUCT
030301 – Misconduct is defined as a specific act of wrong-doing or an improper behaviour which is
inimical to the image of the service and which can be investigated and proved. It can also lead to
termination and retirement. It includes:
(a) Scandalous conduct such as:
(i) Immoral behaviour;
(ii) Unruly behaviour;
(iii) Drunkenness;
(iv) Foul language;
(v) Assault;
(vi) Battery;
(b) Refusal to proceed on transfer or to accept posting
(c) Habitual lateness to work;
(d) Deliberate delay in treating official document;
(e) Failure to keep records;
(f) Unauthorised removal of public records;
(g) Dishonesty;
(h) Negligence;
(j) Membership of cults;
(k) Sleeping on duty;
(K) Improper dressing while on duty;
(L) Hawking merchandise within office premises;
(m) Refusal to take/carry out lawful instruction from superior officers;
(n) Malingering;
(o) Insubordination
(p) Discourteous behaviour to the public.
030302 – As soon as a superior officer becomes dissatisfied with the behaviour of any officer
subordinate to him/her, it shall be his/her duty to inform the officer in writing giving details of
unsatisfactory behaviour and to call upon him/her to submit within a specific time such written
representation as he/she may wish to make to exculpate himself/herself from disciplinary action. After
considering such written representations as the officer may make within the specified time the superior
officer shall decide whether:
(a) the officer has exculpated himself/herself in which case,
he/she shall be so informed in writing and no further action shall be necessary, or
(b) the officer has not exculpated himself/herself but it is
considered that he/she should not be punished in which case the appropriate formal letter of advice
shall be issued to him/her and he/she shall be required to acknowledge its receipt in writing, or
(c) the officer has not exculpated himself/herself and
deserves some punishment, in which case Rule 030304 shall apply.
030303 – Where a Tribunal of Inquiry set up by the Government makes
recommendations of disciplinary nature on an officer, the Federal Civil Service Commission shall not act
on such recommendations until it has called upon the affected officer to reply to the allegations made
against him/her by the Tribunal of Inquiry. If the officer refuses or neglects to reply to the allegations
within a reasonable time or at all, the Federal Civil Service Commission or its agent shall proceed to
accept and enforce the recommendations of the Tribunal of Inquiry and take such disciplinary action
against the officer as it shall deem appropriate.
030304 – (a) It shall be the duty of every officer to report any case of misconduct that comes to his/her
notice to an officer superior to the officer involved.
(b) When an officer’s misconduct is brought to the notice of his/her superior officer, it shall be the
duty of that superior officer to report it to the Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra Ministerial Office
without delay. If he/she considers it necessary that the officer should be interdicted, such
recommendations shall be made in the report.
(c) On receiving the report, the Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra Ministerial Office shall take action
in accordance with Rule 030302-030306 as appropriate and, if necessary, shall interdict the officer.
(d) At the appropriate point in the investigation, the officer may be suspended in accordance
with Rule 030405.
030305 – If it is presented to the Federal Civil Service Commission that an officer has been guilty of
misconduct and the Commission does not consider the alleged misconduct serious enough to warrant
proceedings under Rule 030306 with a view to dismissal, it may cause an investigation to be made into
the matter in such a manner as it considers proper and the officer shall be entitled to know the whole
case made against him/her, and shall have adequate opportunity of making his/her defence. If as a
result the commission decides that the allegation is proved, it may inflict any other punishment upon
the officer such as reduction in rank, withholding or deferment of increment or otherwise.
030306 – Any disciplinary proceedings against a female staff which might otherwise have been taken
during the period of her maternity leave shall be postponed until the leave has expired. Such
postponement, however, shall not in any way prejudice the proceedings against her.
030307 – Unless the method of dismissal is otherwise provided for in these Rules, an officer in the
Federal Public Service may be dismissed by the Federal Civil Service Commission only in accordance with
this Rule:
(i) The officers shall be notified in writing of the grounds
on which it is proposed to discipline him/her. The query should be precise and to the point. It must
relate the circumstances of the offence, the rule and regulation which the officer has broken and the
likely penalty. In serious cases which are likely to result in dismissal, the officer should be given access to
any such document(s) or report(s) used against him/her and he/she should be asked to state in his
defence that he/she has been given access to such documents. The officer shall be called upon to state
in writing, within the period specified in the query any grounds upon which he/she relies to exculpate
himself/herself.
(ii) The query, or preliminary letter, shall be in the format
shown in Appendix II.
(iii) If the officer submits his/her representations and the
Federal Civil Service Commission is not satisfied that he/she has exculpated himself/herself, and
considers that the officer should be dismissed, it shall take such action accordingly. Should the officer
however fail to furnish any representations within the time fixed, the Commission may take such action
against the officer as it deems appropriate;
(iv) If upon considering the representations of the officer
the Commission is of the opinion that the officer does not deserve to be dismissed from the Service but
deserves some other punishment, it shall impose on the officer such punishment as it considers
appropriate;
(v) Where necessary, the Commission may set up a board
of inquiry which shall consist of not less than three persons one of whom shall be appointed chairman
by the Commission. The members of the board shall be selected with due regard to the status of the
officer involved in the disciplinary case and to the nature of the complaint which is the subject of
inquiry. The head of the officer’s department shall not be a member of the board;
(vi) The officer shall be informed that, on a specific day,
the question of his/her dismissal shall be brought before the board and he/she shall be required to
appear before it to defend himself/herself and shall be entitled to call witnesses. His/her failure to
appear shall not invalidate the proceedings of the board;
(vii) Where witnesses are called by the board to give
evidence before it, the officer shall be entitled to put questions to the witnesses and no
documentary evidence shall be used against the officer unless he/she has previously been supplied with
a copy thereof or given access thereto;
(viii) If during the course of the inquiry further grounds for
dismissal are disclosed, and the Federal Civil Service Commission thinks it fit to proceed against the
officer upon such grounds, the officer shall, by the direction of the Commission, be furnished with a
written statement thereof and the same steps shall be taken as prescribed above in respect of the
original grounds;
(ix) The Board having inquired into the matter shall make a
report to the Commission. If the Commission considers that the report should be amplified in any
respect or that further inquiry is desirable, it may refer any matter back to the board for further inquiry
or report. The Commission shall not in it self hear witnesses;
(x) If upon considering the report of the board together with the
evidence and all material documents relating to the case, the Commission is of the opinion that the
officer should be dismissed, such action shall immediately be taken;
(xi) If the Commission does not approve the officer’s dismissal and
does not consider that any penalty should be imposed, the officer shall be reinstated forthwith and be
entitled to the full amount of salary denied him/her if he/she was interdicted or suspended;
(xii) If upon considering the report of the board the
Commission is of the opinion that the officer does not deserve to be dismissed but that the proceedings
disclosed grounds for requiring him/her to retire, the Commission shall, without further proceedings,
direct accordingly; and
(xiii) All disciplinary procedures must commence and be
completed within a period of 60 days except where it involves criminal cases.
030308 – No officer may render professional assistance to institutions or Government Agencies during
working hours or accept remuneration for it, except with the written permission of the Permanent
Secretary/Head of Extra Ministerial Office which could be granted if it is in public interests to do so. The
amount of the remuneration must be paid into the Treasury on deposit until the orders of Government
as to the share, if any, which may be received by the officer, is known.
030309 – No fine shall be imposed on any officer as a punishment for an offence committed in the
course of his/her duties
030310 – (a) If at anytime the public revenue sustains a loss by reason of the neglect or fault of any
officer, he/she will be liable to be surcharged with the amount and any sums due to him/her from
Government may be withheld in satisfaction of such surcharge.
(b) Officers defined as workers in Section 2 of Labour Act
(Cap. 198) may be surcharged if the circumstances warrant such action, but all papers relevant to the
case must be submitted in accordance with the Act, to the warrant of the Federal Ministry of Labour and
Productivity for approval of the surcharge.
030311 – An officer shall not lend money at interest, whether on mortgage or otherwise, or
guarantee or stand as surety for money lent on interest, to any other person. Nothing in this rule shall
be deemed to prevent members of registered co-operative societies or approved benefit societies from
standing as sureties for loans made by the societies, nor shall it be deemed to prevent any officer from
placing money in a deposit account in any bank or standing surety for money lent by Government to
another officer.
030312 – Officers are prohibited from hawking merchandise or engaging in any other form of trading
within the office premises during working hours.
030313 – No officer shall appear in the office or anywhere in his official capacity dressed in a manner
considered inappropriate or immodest.
030314 – In order to prevent the irregular use by non-officials of letters of recommendations or
certificates of character, officers are prohibited from giving, in their official capacities, letters or
certificates whether on official stationery or otherwise.
SECTION 4 – SERIOUS MISCONDUCT
030401 – DEFINITION: Serious misconduct is a specific act of very serious wrong-doing and improper
behaviour which is inimical to the image of the service and which can be investigated and if proven, may
lead to dismissal.
030402 – SERIOUS ACTS OF MISCONDUCT INCLUDE:
(a) Falsification of records;
(b) Suppression of records;
(c) Withholding of Files
(d) Conviction on a criminal charge (other than a minor traffic or sanitary offence or the like);
(e) Absence from duty without leave;
(f) False claims against Government Officials;
(g) Engaging in partisan political activities
(h) Bankruptcy/serious financial embarrassment;
(i) Unauthorised disclosure of official information;
(j) Bribery;
(k) Corruption;
(l) Embezzlement;
(m) Misappropriation;
(n) Violation of Oath of Secretary;
(o) Action prejudicial to the security of the State;
(p) Advance Fee Fraud (Criminal Code) 419);
(q) Holding more than one full-time paid job;
(r) Nepotism or any other form of preferential treatment;
(s) Divided loyalty;
(t) Sabotage;
(u) Wilful damage to Public property
(v) Sexual Harassment; and
(w) Any other act unbecoming of a Public Officer.
030403 – Disciplinary procedure for serious misconduct shall be in accordance with Rules 030302 to
030306.
030404 – (i) Where a serious case that may lead to dismissal has been instituted against an officer, the
Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra Ministerial Office may interdict him/her on not more than half pay
pending the determination of the case.
(ii) Recommendations to the Commission for interdiction
shall be made only if it is against the public interest that the officer should continue to perform any of
the duties of his/her rank. When the charge against him/her is such that the continued performance of
his/her present duties is against the public interest or prejudicial to the investigation of the charge
against him/her, consideration shall be given to putting him/her on alternative duties. Interdiction shall
only be resorted to where this is not possible.
(iii) When an officer is interdicted, he/she shall cease to
report for duty. In the letter informing the officer of his/her interdiction it shall be indicated that the
proportion of emoluments he/she is to receive while on interdiction shall be 50% of his/her
emoluments.
(iv) If proceedings under Rule 030404 (i) reveal that he/
she is not guilty of the charge made against him/her, the officer shall immediately by reinstated and
shall receive the full amount of his/her emoluments denied him/her while he/she was interdicted.
(v) If the officer is found guilty but is not dismissed, he/she may be refunded such
portion of the emoluments denied him/her as the Commission may determine.
030405 – (a) An officer who is under interdiction or suspension shall notify his/her Permanent
Secretary/Head of Extra Ministerial Office of his/her intention to leave his/her station. He/she shall
however not leave the country without the specific approval of the Head of the Civil Service of the
Federation.
(b) An officer under interdiction is also responsible for
keeping his/her Ministry/Extra-Ministerial Office informed of the address at which instructions to
him/her can be delivered.
(c) If he/she fails to comply with the instructions delivered
to him/her at such address within seven days of such delivery, he/she will be regarded as
absent from duty without leave.
030406 – Suspension should not be used as a synonym for interdiction. It shall apply where a prima facie
case, the nature of which is serious, has been established against an officer and it is considered
necessary in the public interest that he/she should forthwith be prohibited from carrying on his duties.
Pending investigation into the misconduct, the Federal Civil Service Commission or the Permanent
Secretary/Head of Extra Ministerial Office (if within his/her delegated powers) shall forthwith suspend
him/her from the exercise of the powers and functions of his/her office and from the enjoyment of
his/her emolument.
030407 – (a) The ultimate penalty for serious misconduct is dismissal. An officer who is dismissed
forfeits all claims to retiring benefits, leave or transport grant, etc. subject to the provisions of the
Pension Reform Act 2004.
030408 – When an officer is dismissed, no notice or emolument in lieu shall be given to him/her and
his/her dismissal shall take effect from the date on which he/she is notified thereof. This date shall be
notified by the Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra- Ministerial Office concerned to the Federal Civil
Service Commission and to the Office of Establishments and Pension, as soon as possible. Where the
officer concerned seeks to evade this official notification, the effective date shall be:
(a) that on which he/she is served with the notification,
even though he/she may refuse to acknowledge receipt; or
(b) the date on which the notification is delivered by
messenger to his/her recorded address, even though the officer concerned does not himself/herself
acknowledge receipt of such delivery; or
(c) the date on which the notification is sent by post to
his/her last known or normal address in accordance with the definition of “service by post” in section 26
of the Interpretation Act (Cap. 192).
030409 – An officer must, under pain of disciplinary action, promptly report to his/her Permanent
Secretary/Head of Extra Ministerial Office whenever he/she is convicted of criminal offence, and must
report the outcome of the charge.
030410 – If an officer is convicted on a criminal charge, the Commission shall consider the proceedings
of the court and if it is of the opinion that the officer should be dismissed or subjected to some lesser
penalty on account of the offence for which he/she has been convicted, the officer may thereupon be
dismissed or otherwise punished without any of the procedures prescribed in Rule 030306 being
followed.
030411 – (a) Nothing shall prevent disciplinary action being taken or continued against an officer
whether or not –
(i) criminal proceedings have been instituted with respect
to such a person in any court of law in Nigeria or elsewhere or are about to be instituted or are
contemplated; or
(ii) the grounds upon which any criminal charge are based
or are to be based are substantially the same as those upon which the disciplinary proceedings were or
are to be instituted.
(b) An officer acquitted of a criminal offence shall not be
penalized for any charge of which he/she has been acquitted, but nothing in this rule shall
prevent his/her being dismissed or otherwise punished on any other charges arising out of his/her
conduct in the matter, provided that such charges do not raise substantially the same issue as those of
which he/she has been acquitted. If the Commission thinks fit, the usual procedure may be followed for
the purpose.
030412 – An officer convicted of criminal offence (other than a minor traffic or sanitary offence and the
like) shall be suspended with effect from the date of conviction, pending consideration of his/her case
by the Commission.
030413 – Any officer who absents himself/herself from duty or travels out from Nigeria without leave
renders himself/herself liable to be dismissed from the service and the onus shall rest on him/her, to
show that the circumstances do not justify the imposition of the full penalty.
030414 – (1) For the purpose of these rules, the expression “serious financial embarrassment” means
the state of an officer’s indebtedness which, having regard to the amount of debts incurred by him/her,
has actually caused serious financial hardship to him/her and, without prejudice to the general meaning
of the said expression, an officer shall be deemed to be in serious financial embarrassment:
(a) if the aggregate of his/her unsecured debts and
liabilities at any given time exceed the sum of three times his/her monthly emoluments.
(b) where he/she is a judgment debtor, for as long as
the judgment debt remains unsettled; or
(c) where he/she is adjudged bankrupt or insolvent
wage earner, for as long as he/she remains an undischarged bankrupt or as the case may be for as long
as any judgment against him/her in favour of the official Assignee remains unsatisfied.
(2) Serious financial embarrassment from whatever cause shall be regarded as necessarily impairing
the efficiency of an officer and rendering him/her liable to disciplinary action.
(3) If such embarrassment is caused by imprudence or other reprehensible cause, the officer
concerned shall be liable to immediate dismissal and the onus shall rest on him/her to show that the
circumstances do not justify the imposition of the full penalty.
(4) It shall be the duty of the Registrars of all courts of competent jurisdiction to report to the
appropriate Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra Ministerial Office that the officer has become a
judgment debtor.
(5) When the fact that an officer has become judgment debtor or a party to the accommodation of
bills or promissory notes is brought to the notice of his/her Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra
Ministerial Office, the latter shall call upon him/her to submit a statutory declaration in the prescribed
form (Gen.74) disclosing all his/her liabilities.
(6) Otherwise a Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra-Ministerial Office may take such action as
appears to him/her necessary when an officer becomes financially embarrassed; and If he/she
considers it undesirable that the officer should be retained in the Public Service, he/she shall initiate the
appropriate disciplinary proceedings.
(7) As long as an officer is in serious financial embarrassment, he/she shall be
disqualified from promotion or acting in a higher appointment.
030415 – It shall be the duty of every Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra-Ministerial Office to ensure
that all officers, employees and temporary staff in his/her Ministry/Extra-Ministerial Office who have
access to classified or restricted papers have signed the Oath of Secrecy, in the appropriate from before
they are granted such access and that the declarations so signed are safely preserved. To facilitate this
action in respect of officers holding junior posts, the Oath of Secrecy is incorporated in the revised Form
No. Gen. 75
030416
– Every officer is subject to the Of
ficial Secrets Act, (Cap. 335) (reproduced as Appendix at the end of this Rule or chapter) and is
prohibited from disclosing to any person, except in accordance with official routine or with the special
permission of Government, any article, note, document or information entrusted to him/her in
confidence by any person holding office under any Government in the Federal Republic of Nigeria, or
which he/she has obtained in the course of his official duties. Similarly, every
officer shall exercise due care and diligence to prevent the knowledge of any such article, note,
document or information being communicated to any person against the interest of the Government.
030417 – Every officer is prohibited from abstracting or copying official minutes, records or other
documents except in accordance with official routine or with special permission of his Permanent
Secretary/Head of Extra-Ministerial Office.
030418 – Officers shall not, as a general rule, have access to official and secret records relating
personally to themselves.
030419 – No officer may, on leaving the public service take with him/her any public record without the
written permission of the Permanent Secretary in the Office of Establishments and Pension.
030420 – Historical manuscripts or other documents of public interest which may be discovered by any
officer in the course of his/her official duties shall not be appropriated to his/her own use, but their
existence must be reported to Government in order that steps may be taken for their examination and
preservation.
030421 – (i) Except in pursuance of his/her official duties, no officer shall, without the express
permission of his/her Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra-Ministerial Office, whether on duty or on
leave of absence:
(a) act as the editor or take part directly or indirectly in the
management of or in any way make financial contribution to any newspaper, magazine or journal
except the following:
(i) Departmental or staff magazine;
(ii) Professional journal:
(iii) Publication of voluntary organizations;
(b) Contribute to, whether anonymously or otherwise, or publish in
any newspaper, magazine or periodical, or otherwise publish, cause to be published in any manner
anything which may reasonably be regarded as of a political or administrative nature.
(c) speak in public or broadcast on any matter which may reasonably be regarded as of a political or
administrative nature;
(d) allow himself/herself to be interviewed or express any opinion for
publication on any question of a political or administrative nature or on matters affecting the
administration, public policy, defence or military resources of the Federation or any other country.
(ii) (a) In considering whether or not permission for the proposed publication is to be granted, the
Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra-Ministerial Office shall have regard to the interest of the
Government and the public, and may, if he/she considers it necessary, seek the opinion of other
appropriate Permanent Secretary/Heads of Extra-Ministerial Offices.
(b) On the submission to the Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra-Ministerial Office of a brief outline of
the scope of the proposed publication and the method of the treatment to be applied thereto, the
Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra-Ministerial Office, may give a provisional permission for the
proposed publication; provided that no final permission thereof shall be granted unless a full and
complete manuscript thereof shall have been submitted to the Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra-
Ministerial Office, and he/she is satisfied that the proposed publication is not against the interest of the
Government or the public.
(iii) Nothing in this Rule shall be deemed to prevent an officer from publishing in his own name, by
writing, speech or broadcast, matters relating to a subject of general interest which does not contain a
criticism of any officer, Minister, official and Ministerial statements or actions, or which can be regarded
as of a political or administrative nature; provided that in so publishing any matter compiled with
Government sanction from official records, he/she gives prominence to a disclaimer of Government
responsibility for its accuracy.
030422 – No officer shall, without express permission of the Government, whether on duty or leave of
absence:
(a) hold any office, paid or unpaid, permanent or temporary, in any political organization;
(b) offer himself/herself or nominate anyone else as a
candidate for any elective public office including membership of a Local Government Council, State or
National Assembly.
(c) indicate publicly his support of or opposition to any
party, candidate or policy,
(d) engage in canvassing in support of political candidate.
(e) Nothing in this rule shall be deemed to prevent an officer from voting at an election.
030423 – Resignation is necessary before seeking elective public office. Howbeit, any officer wishing to
engage in Partisan political activities or seek elective public office shall resign his/her appointment
forthwith.
030424 – (a) Public officers are not prohibited from holding shares in both public and private companies
operating in Nigeria or abroad except that they must not be Directors in private companies, and may
only be Directors in Public companies if nominated by Government.
(b) A public Officer, whenever required to do so by his/her Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra-
Ministerial Office, shall disclosed within three working days in confidence; full information about any
investments held by him/her or his/ her immediate family whether held in their own names or the
names of other persons or otherwise. Where an officer is called upon to divest himself/herself of
investments which are likely to lead to public scandal or are likely to be construed as an indication that
the officer has abused his/her public position for his/her private advantage, and he/she fails to comply
within six months, the matter shall be reported to the Federal Civil Service Commission for necessary
action.
030425 – In accordance with the provisions of the Regulated and other Professions Private Practice
Prohibition Act, (Cap.390) Part II, no officer shall engaged in private practice. However, exemptions shall
be granted to private Medical Practitioners and Law Lecturers in the Universities.
030426 – It is the duty of every officer to report to Government any discovery of what
he/she considers to be valuable minerals. Officers are prohibited, under pain of dismissal, from giving
any information on such valuable discoveries to any syndicate, company or individual and deriving any
benefit therefrom. Upon the report of such discovery, it shall be within the discretion of the
Government to make the report public or to withhold it.
030427 – No officer shall seek the influence of prominent persons or any other person for ensuring the
due consideration of his/her claims in matters connected with discipline or with a view to obtaining
consideration for appointment, transfer, promotion or postings.
030428 – Every officer shall discharge any duties assigned to him/her by Government and accept liability
of being stationed wherever his/her presence is considered to be most useful.
030429 – An officer on leave of absence shall not accept any paid employment without previously
obtaining the express approval of the Office of Establishments and Pension.
030430 – No officer shall undertake any private agency in any matter connected with the exercise of
his/her public duties
030431 – Concealment of any of the facts which an applicant for Government employment is required
to make in compliance with Rule 020207 or any false statement in that regard or in any application for
employment shall be regarded as sufficient grounds for non-employment or for subsequent termination
of appointment without notice if the falsehood is detected after engagement.
030432 – No officer may borrow money either as principal or as surety or in any manner which place
him/her under a financial obligation to a person whether in the public service of the Federation or a
State or otherwise, being a person:
(a) who is directly or indirectly subject to his/her official authority;
(b) who resides, possesses land or carries on business within the local limits of his/her official
authority;
(c) with whom the officer has or is likely to have official dealings; or
(d) who is registered money-lender.
For the purpose of this rule, the word “person” shall include a body or persons corporate or non-
corporate.
(2) An officer may, however, borrow from banks, insurance companies, co-operative societies or incur
debts through acquiring goods by means of a hire-purchase agreement provided that:
(a) the bank, insurance companies, co-operative societies from which
the officer borrows or the person with whom he/she signs a hire-purchase agreement are not directly or
indirectly subject to his/her official authority and do not have such official dealings with the officer as
may lead to public scandal or be construed as an abuse of his/her public position for his/her private
advantage; and
(b) the aggregate of his/her debts does not or is not likely to cause
him/her serious financial embarrassment as defined under Rule 030414.
(3) Subject to paragraph (2) above an officer may incur the following debts, provided that the
aggregate of his/her debts is not likely to cause him/her serious financial embarrassment -
(a) sums borrowed on the security of land charged or mortgage, where the said sum do not exceed
the value of the said land;
(b) overdrafts allowed by banks
(c) sums borrowed from insurance companies on security of policies;
(d) sums borrowed from the Government or co-operative societies; or
(e) sums due on goods acquired by means of hire-purchase agreement.
030433 – (a) No officer or his/her family shall accept gifts or presents, whether in the form of money or
otherwise, from any person in recognition or anticipation of service rendered or to be rendered by
virtue of his/her official position. These rules shall not be regarded as applying to small personal gifts
such as may be exchanged between colleagues and friends. If an officer is in doubt as to the propriety
of receiving and retaining a gift, he/she may consult his/her Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra-
Ministerial Office
(b) Gifts from traditional rules, Chiefs and other persons
which cannot be refused without giving offence shall be handed over to the Government. When gifts are
received on behalf of the Government in ceremonial intercourse they shall be handed over to the
Government and any returned presents shall be given at Government expense.
030434 – In order to improve Public Service management, and enhance accountability and
transparency, no officer shall receive any bribe or engage in corrupt practices.
SECTION 5 – CONDUCT PREJUDICIAL TO THE SECURITY OF THE STATE
030501 – Where a Committee comprising members from the Federal Ministry of Justice, office of
Establishments and Pension is satisfied that an officer has committed a misconduct involving the
security of the State or prejudicial to it the officer shall be subject to the normal disciplinary procedure
provided that the punishment for such misconduct shall be aggravated.
SECTION 6 – RETIREMENT IN PUBLIC INTEREST
030601 – Notwithstanding the provisions of this Chapter, if the Federal Civil Service Commission
considers that it is desirable in the Public interest that an officer should be required to retire
from Service on grounds which cannot suitably be dealt with by the procedures laid down in Rule
030305, it shall call for a full report from the Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra Ministerial Office in
which the officer has served; and if, considering that report and giving the officer an opportunity of
submitting a reply to the complaints by reason of which his/her retirement is contemplated, the
Commission is satisfied, having regard to the conditions of service, the usefulness of the officer thereto
and all other circumstances of the case, that it is desirable in the public interest to do so, it shall retire
the officer and the officer’s service shall accordingly terminate on such date as the Commission may
specify. In every such case, the question of pension and gratuity will be dealt with under the Pensions
Reform Act, 2004.
CHAPTER 4
EMOLUMENTS AND INCREMENT
SECTION 1. – EMOLUMENTS
SECTION 2. – INCREMENT RULES
SECTION 1. – EMOLUMENTS
040101. – Financial Regulations contain guidance on the payment of emoluments and wages.
040102. – On first appointment, emolument shall, as a general rule be paid as from the date of
assumption of duty.
040103. – On transfer from another Government to the Federal Public Service a staff shall be eligible
for the emolument attached to his/her new office with effect from the day he/she assumes duty.
040104. – Except in a case of a promotion from a non-pensionable to a pensionable office, the following
rules shall apply where an officer is promoted in the ordinary course within the Federal Public Service to
an office carrying emolument on an incremental scale:
(i) If the officer is promoted to a Grade Level that does
not overlap his/her old Grade Level, he/she will be placed at the minimum point of his/her new Salary
Grade Level.
(ii) If his/her emolument in the former post is higher than
the minimum point of the new Salary Grade Level, he/she will be placed on the next point, higher than
his/her former emolument after taking into consideration the increment he/she would have earned if
he/she had not been promoted.
SECTION 2. – INCREMENT RULES
040201. – Increment is a predetermined amount added to the annual emolument of an officer every
calendar year.
040202 – An officer on an incremental Grade Level shall normally be granted an increment
unless he/she is on interdiction/suspension or has a disciplinary action pending against him/her or on
account of poor performance.
DEFERRING AND WITHHOLDING OF INCREMENTS
040203 – The incremental date of an officer appointed or promoted to a post in the Federal Public
Service shall be 1st January of the year following at least six months of service or promotion.
040204 – The grant of an increment may be deferred or withheld in accordance with the provisions of
Chapter 4. In deciding which penalty to impose or recommend, a Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra
Ministerial Office will take into account the gravity of the shortcoming and the quality of the officer’s
previous service, bearing in mind that to withhold an increment is a more serious penalty than to defer
it.
040205 – An officer’s increment is deferred when the decision as to whether or not it shall be granted is
postponed for a specific period. The period must be fixed at the time the increment is deferred and
must not be less than three months nor more than six months. If less than six months in the first
instance, it may, if necessary, be increased to six months by additional specific deferment. If a deferred
increment is eventually granted it does not become effective until the day following the expiration of
the specific period of deferment. However, the recipient retains his/her original incremental date for
subsequent increments. If a deferred increment is not granted at or before the expiration of six months
from the date it was originally due it must be withheld.
For example, if an officer who is due to proceed from N147,968 to N152,950 per annum on 1/1/2005
had his/her increment deferred for three months his/her salary shall remain at N147,9968 until
31/3/2005 when his/her Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra- Ministerial Office must decide whether or
not to grant the deferred increment. If he/she grants it, the officer draws monthly emolument at
N152,950 for the period 1/4/2005 to 31/12/2005 (i.e. the remaining nine months) and retains his/her
original increment date of 1st January for consideration of his next increment to N157,932.
040206 – An officer’s increment is withheld when it is decided not to grant it and that he/she shall cease
to be eligible thereof until his/her next incremental date. The withholding of an increment thus result in
the emolument of the officer in question remaining for the rest of his/her incremental service one
increment behind what it would have been had the increment not been withheld (unless the Federal
Civil Service Commission exercises the authority described in Rule 040208).
Example. – An officer due to proceed from N147,968 to N152,950 per annum on 1/2/2005 had his/her
increment withheld. His/her emolument should remain at N147,968 through the period 1/2/2005 to
31/1/2005 and he/she cannot proceed to N152, 950 until 1/2/2006, his/her next incremental date.
040207 – An increment deferred or withheld cannot be restored with retrospective effect in
consequence of improved service during a later increment – earning period.
040208 – When an officer’s increment has been withheld under Rule 040206, the Federal Civil Service
Commission, may at any subsequent incremental date, grant one or more special increments having the
effect of raising the salary of the officer to or towards the level it would have reached if the previous
withholding had not occurred.
CHAPTER 5
ANNUAL PERFORMANCE REPORTS AND
CERTIFICATES OF SERVICE
SECTION 1 – GENERAL
SECTION 2 – PROGRESS REPORTS ON OFFICERS
SECTION 3 – ANNUAL PERFORMANCE REPORTS ON SENIOR
OFFICERS
SECTION 4 – ANNUAL PERFORMANCE EVALUATION REPORTS ON JUNIOR OFFICERS
SECTION 1. - GENERAL
050101- A reporting Officer must not only be at least one substantive grade above the officer being
reported on, but also be the immediate Superior Officer under whom the officer being reported on
directly works. Where an officer has served in more than one Department before his report is rendered,
the Reporting Officer shall be the immediate Superior Officer under whom he worked for the substantial
part of the normal period a report shall cover. It is necessary that a countersigning officer should assess
every report judiciously before countersigning.
050102 - It is essential for the general efficiency of the service that Annual Reports on officers shall be
detailed and candid. Reporting officers must realize that their own capabilities are discernible from the
reports they write on their subordinates, bearing in mind that they hold their offices as much by virtue
of their administrative ability as well as their professional ability.
050103 -The substance of any adverse comment on an officer’s work or conduct included in a report
shall be conveyed to him in writing by the reporting Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra-Ministerial
Office in sympathetic terms and with the object of enabling and encouraging him to overcome his short-
comings. The fact that this action has been taken shall be stated in the report itself. A copy of the letter
addressed to the officer as well as a copy of his acknowledgement should be attached to the Report.
Attention is however drawn to the provisions of Chapter 4 of these Rules.
REPORTS ON SECONDED OFFICERS
050104 – When an officer is seconded to another Ministry/Extra-Ministerial Office, the
Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra Ministerial Office to which he/she is seconded is responsible for
furnishing the reports on the officer as required by this chapter.
050105 – Arrangements shall be made with Corporations, States or State-owned Companies to which
officers are seconded to furnish the reports on the officers so seconded as required by this Chapter as
though such bodies were Government Departments. It shall be the responsibility of the Permanent
Secretary/Head of Extra-Ministerial Office from which an officer has been seconded to request the
Corporation, State or State-owned company concerned, two months before the due date, to furnish the
required report, on appropriate annual Report Forms which shall be supplied to the establishment for
this purpose.
SECTION 2 – PROGRESS REPORTS ON OFFICERS
050201 – Progress reports are meant to provide in respect of officers on probation or initial contract, a
full record of each officer’s work, conduct and capabilities on which to judge his/her suitability for
confirmation or re-engagement (whichever is appropriate) and to ensure that in cases where an officer’s
suitability for continued employment is in doubt he is given timely warning of his faults and reasonable
opportunity to correct them.
TIMING
050202 - Permanent Secretaries/Heads of Extra Ministerial Offices are responsible for rendering
Progress Reports at intervals of six months with effect from the date of first appointment. The final
Progress Report shall be rendered not later than two months before an officer’s probationary period or
second tour of the contract is due to expire.
050203 – If for any reason an officer’s probationary period is due to expire at a time when he/she will be
on leave, the final Progress Report should be rendered not later than two months before he/she
proceeds on such leave, in order that a decision as to the confirmation, deferment of confirmation or
termination of his/her appointment may be taken and communicated to him/her before his/her
departure. In the case of an officer on contract, if an adverse opinion of his/her suitability has been
formed before progress report shall be rendered not later than two months before he/she so proceeds,
in order that Government’s decision as to whether he/she should be allowed to return for a further tour
may be taken and communicated to him/her before he/she departs, and that the officer may have the
opportunity of deciding before he/she departs, whether, in the light of the adverse opinion already
formed, it is in his/her own interest to return.
050204 – Permanent Secretaries/Heads of Extra Ministerial Offices should address Progress Reports to
the Permanent Secretary, Federal Civil Service Commission or the Permanent Secretary, Public Service
Office, as appropriate under personal and confidential cover. The final Progress Report rendered after
21 months’ service shall include a definite recommendation as to whether the officer’s appointment
should be confirmed or terminated or whether his/her contract should be renewed.
SECTION 3 – ANNUAL PERFORMANCE REPORTS ON
SENIOR OFFICERS
050301 – The object of Annual Performance Reports (APER) is to provide a full record of each officer’s
work, conduct and capabilities from which his/her suitability for promotion may be judged by the
Federal Civil Service Commission. In order that the Commission may be in a position to weigh, in
connection with a particular vacancy, the merits of officers, it is important that it should know precisely
what work the officer has been engaged upon and the judgment formed on that work. It is no less
important that the Federal Civil Service Commission should receive an indication of each officer’s
suitability for appointment/promotion to a senior grade in which he/she would have to perform
administrative or supervisory duties. It may be that the officer’s work in the appointment which he/she
holds gives the fullest satisfaction but that he/she is unsuitable for more responsible duties, and the
Federal Civil Service Commission particularly desires to have a record or expression of opinion as to each
officer’s suitability for promotion when, by his/her seniority, he/she may be regarded as eligible to be
considered for such advancement.
050302 – Annual Performance Reports should be rendered on all officers at the end of each
Calendar year. However confidential reporting system should be adopted for officers on Grade Level 15-
17
050303 – Thirty days before the end of the year, every officer on whom an Annual Performance
Evaluation Report is required (see Appendix V) shall, subject to any departmental instructions which
may be issued to supplement this Rule, complete and sign the relevant pages of the appropriate number
of copies of the Form and forward them, unfolded, through departmental channels to the Permanent
Secretary/Head of Extra-Ministerial Office. Officers who will be on leave on the due date should take
this action before proceedings on leave.
050304 – The attention of all officers is invited to the necessity for including the fullest possible
information in their replies to the questions on the relevant pages of the Annual Performance Evaluation
Report Forms, so that the reports may be used for the object explained in Rule 050301 without
reference to any other document.
050305 – Every Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra Ministerial Office shall make such departmental
arrangements as he/she considers necessary to ensure that thirty days before the due date, an officer
serving in his/her Ministry/Extra-Ministerial Office, on whom a report is required, takes the action
indicated in the preceding Rule and that the Forms thus completed by individual officers are forwarded
to the appropriate Reporting Officers who shall complete the appropriate sections of the report which
shall then be transmitted to the Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra- Ministerial Office.
050306 – Permanent Secretaries shall forward copies of officers’ APPER to the Federal Civil
Service Commission not later than 31st January of each year and the provisions of the Public Service
Rule (PSR) on this matter should be strictly adhered to.
SECTION 4 – ANNUAL PERFORMANCE EVALUATION REPORTS ON JUNIOR OFFICERS
050401 – In order to provide a full record of the work, conduct and capabilities on which to judge the
suitability of an officer holding a junior post for confirmation, and to ensure that in cases where his/her
suitability for confirmation is in doubt he/she is given timely warning of his her faults and reasonable
opportunity to correct them, the Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra-Ministerial Office shall arrange for
progress reports on such officers to be rendered annually by responsible departmental officers.
050402 – In order to provide a full record of the work, conduct and capabilities on which to judge the
suitability for promotion of Officers holding junior posts, the Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra
Ministerial Office shall arrange for annual performance evaluation reports on such officers to be
rendered on them by responsible departmental officers at the end of each calendar year. The reports on
all eligible candidates shall be made available when the Junior Staff Committee meets to select
candidates for promotion from one junior post to another.
CHAPTER 6
PRESCRIBED EXAMINATION FOR CONFIRMATION
SECTION 1 – GENERAL
SECTION 2 – COMBINED CONFIRMATION/
PROMOTION EXAMINATIONS
SECTION 3 – COMPULSORY EXAMINATIONS FOR EXECUTIVE
OFFICERS
SECTION 4 – COMPULSORY EXAMINATIONS FOR ADMINISTRA-
TIVE OFFICERS AND PROFESSIONALS
SECTION 5 – FEES FOR INVIGILATORS AND EXAMINERS
SECTION 1 – GENERAL
060101 – (i) All officers joining the service or transferring from one establishment to another who are
not yet confirmed are required to pass confirmation examination in addition to undergoing an Induction
Course. The examination shall comprise the following:-
(a) Combined Confirmation/Promotion Examination for junior Staff;
(b) Compulsory Confirmation Examination for Senior Staff;
(ii) The following compulsory examination shall be
conducted in the Public Service:
(a) Combined Confirmation/Promotion Examination;
(b) Compulsory Confirmation Examination for Senior Staff.
SECTION – 2
COMBINED CONFIRMATION/PROMOTION EXAMINATION
060201 – It is the responsibility of the Manpower Development Office (MDO) in the Office of the Head
of Civil Service of the Federation to conduct and supervise the examination.
060202 – There shall be established an Examination Board which shall be responsible for the conduct
and supervision of the examinations. The Board shall comprise of the following:
(a) Manpower Development Office (OHCSF) – Chairman
(b) Establishment & Pension Office (OHCSF) – Member
(c) Federal Civil Service Commission – Member
(d) Federal Ministry of Education – “
(e) Federal Ministry of Justice – “
(f) Office of the Accountant-General of the
Federation – “
(g) Any other line Ministry /Office a particular
examination may relate to – “
060203 - An officer who fails the examination after three consecutive attempts shall by virtue of such
failures be required to resign or withdraw from the service. The Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra-
Ministerial Office shall ensure compliance.
060204 – An officer who fails to take the confirmation examination after 3 years of first
appointment shall be required to resign from the service.
060205 – Confirmation examination shall be held once a year in the last quarter of every year.
060206 – During the confirmation examination an officer is allowed to make reference to the Public
Service reference books or any other related sources of information. However, textbooks and reference
books are not allowed for the examinations in General Paper, officer Procedure/Routine or Special
Paper. All officers on GL.06 and below must take the confirmation examination within two years from
the date of taking up their appointments in the Ministry/Extra-Ministerial Office.
060207 – The reference books allowed to be used in confirmation examination in the Ministry/Extra-
Ministerial Office are:
(a) GL. 06 and below Public Service Rules, Financial
Regulations, Civil Service Handbook, Notes for Guidance Nos. 1,2 and 5;
(b) GL. 07 and above Public Service Rules, Financial
Regulations, Civil Service Handbook, Federal Establishment Circulars, Notes for Guidance Nos. 1, 2 and 5
etc;
060208 – An Administrative Officer/Professional who possesses law qualification obtained from a
Nigerian University or has been called to the Nigerian Bar shall be exempted, at the discretion of the
Government, from taking Group A of the examination.
060209 – The following are the prescribed examinations for Administrative Officers/Professionals except
otherwise reviewed.
GROUP A – LAW EXAMINATION
This examination consists of two papers, on the following subjects:
1. (a) Nigerian Legal System;
(b) Ministerial Government Procedure based on:
(i) Lagos (Administrative and Executive Functions) Act No. 1 of 1958
(ii) Minister’s Statutory Powers and Duties
(Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, Cap. 228, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 1990.
(iii) Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act. Cap.
208, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990.
(iv) Transfer of Functions (Lagos) Order L.N. 257 of 1959.
(v) Transfer of Functions (Federation) Order L.N. 258 of 1959.
(vi) Chapter VI, Part I, Section A of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999.
2. The main provisions of the following legislations:
(a) The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999;
(b) The following chapters of the Laws of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria, 1990 and the subsidiary legislation made thereunder:
Chapter Title of Act
447 Commissioner and Tribunals of
Inquiry Act.
513 Illiterates Protection Act.
192 Interpretation Act.
331 Notaries Public Act.
333 Oaths Act, 1963.
335 Official Secrets Act, 1962.
503 Federal Capital Territory Act.
IV of the 1999
Constitution. Fundamental Human Rights.
VIII Part I of 1999
Constitution. Federal Capital Territory.
GROUP B. – EXAMINATION IN OFFICIAL PUBLICATIONS
This examination consists of two papers:
(i) Public Service Rules
(ii) Financial Regulations.
SECTION 3. – COMPULSORY EXAMINATIONS FOR
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
060301 – Unless specially exempted by the Government the following Executive Officers are required to
pass the examinations prescribed in Rule 060302 within two years of the date of taking up their
appointment in the Federal Civil Service:
(a) Officers appointed direct on first appointment as
Executive Officers.
(b) Unconfirmed Assistant Executive Officers promoted from
junior posts.
(c) Executive Officers transferred from other Scheduled
Services who at the date of transfer are under the age of forty years and have not satisfied the
conditions for confirmation.
060302 – The following are the prescribed examinations for Executive Officers:
(i) Public Service Rules.
(ii) Financial Regulations.
SECTION 4
COMPULSORY EXAMINATION FOR ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS AND PROFESSIONALS OFFICERS WHO ARE
REQUIRED TO PASS
060401 – Unless exempted by the Government the following Administrative Officers/Professionals are
required to pass the examinations prescribed in Rule 060302 within two years from the date of taking
up their appointments in the Federal Civil Service:
(a) Administrative officers/Professionals appointed direct
to the Federal Public Service on first appointment.
(b) Administrative Officers/Professionals Promoted from
unconfirmed junior posts.
(c) Administrative Officers/Professionals transferred from
other Scheduled Service who at the date of transfer are under the age of forty years and have not
satisfied conditions for confirmation.
(d) For further advancement beyond GL. 10 officers shall
attend Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON) or any other approved institutions and pass the
prescribed examination.
SECTION 5
FEES FOR INVIGILATORS AND EXAMINERS
060501 – Fees shall be paid to examiners and invigilators at rates which may be determined from time
to time by Government.
CHAPTER 7
MEDICAL AND DENTAL PROCEDURES
MEDICAL TREATMENT
SECTION 1 – GENERAL
SECTION 2 – FACILITIES FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT
SECTION 3 – ABSENCE FROM DUTY ON ACCOUNT OF ILLNESS
SECTION 4 – COMPENSATION FOR INJURIES
SECTION 5 – DEATH BENEFITS
SECTION 1 – GENERAL
070101 – “HealthCare Provider (HCP)” means duly appointed HealthCare Provider in accordance with
the National Health Insurance Scheme.
“Hospital” means a medical facility run by a duly approved HealthCare Provider (HCP)
“Medical Officer” is a Medical Practitioner who is authorised to run a HealthCare.
“Private Practitioner” means any other Registered Medical or Dental Practitioner, outside the National
Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
070102 – An officer on first appointment shall be examined by a duly appointed HealthCare Provider,
who will certify that the Officer is sound in health for employment in the pensionable establishment.
Thereafter, every (5) years, an officer shall present himself to a HealthCare Provider for examination to
certify that the officer is sound in health and fit to continue in service, without bias to government policy
on the right of individuals as this pertains to specific diseases from time to time.
070103 – The medical certificates, reports of medical boards, dental treatment records, reports of
private practitioners and confidential health reports mentioned in this Chapter will be treated as strictly
confidential. No copies of these reports except those mentioned in this chapter shall be furnished,
except that this rule shall not preclude the keeping of an officer’s health record in the Ministry of Health
or the transfer of such record to the corresponding office when a staff is transferred to the service of
another Government.
070104 – Every person selected for appointment either in a temporary or in a permanent capacity shall
be required to present himself/herself for examination to a HealthCare Provider (or one so approved by
Government) with a view to its being ascertained whether he/she is physically fit for service. Unless
otherwise provided in the offer of appointment, the fee for such examination shall be paid by the
Federal Government. If the candidate is not finally passed as physically fit for service, his/her
appointment shall not be proceeded with.
070105 – The Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra-Ministerial Office may at any time (and shall, if the
officer so requests) call upon an officer to present himself/herself to an approved HealthCare Provider,
or to a duly constituted Medical Board with a view to ascertaining whether the officer is physically
capable of performing the duties of his appointment or of any appointment to which it may be proposed
to transfer him.
070106 – An officer on leave of absence may be required or at his own request may be permitted by the
Federal Government or its accredited representative, to present himself/herself for examination to an
approved HealthCare Provider, with a view to obtaining a report as to the officer’s fitness to return to
his duties or to take up a fresh appointment.
070107 – In the case of examinations under either of the two preceding Rules:
(a) any fees in respect of the examination shall in the
absence of any special regulations or arrangement to the contrary, be paid by the Government;
(b) the person or persons appointed to conduct the
examination shall have discretion to call a specialist into consultation and any fee due to the specialist
for assistance in rendering a report to the Government shall be paid from public funds;
(c) the report of the examination shall be furnished to the
Government and communicated to the officer concerned by the HealthCare Provider; if he/she so
desires.
(d) the officer shall, however, be informed at the earliest
possible date of the decision reached upon his case by the Government after consideration of the
report; and if the officer is dissatisfied with that decision he shall be at liberty to make representation to
this effect, in which event the Government shall decide at its discretion whether any further medical
evidence shall be called for.
070108 – An officer may be granted leave by his Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra Ministerial Office
for the purpose of visiting a Medical Specialist/Dentist, but only if it is certified by the HealthCare
Provider that he/she is unable to deal with the case himself/herself and that it will definitely affect the
health of the officer if consultation is postponed. An officer granted leave in such circumstances will be
treated for the purpose of free transport facilities (but not for travelling allowance) as travelling on duty.
If no medical certificate is given, it will be open to an officer to apply for casual leave under Rule 100214.
SECTION 2 – FACILITIES FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT
070201 – The medical facilities in Nigeria Provided to all officers and their families and the scale of
charges will be determined by the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
TREATMENT BY PRIVATE PRACTITIONERS
070202 – A staff who prefers to be treated by a private practitioner instead of availing himself/herself of
service of authorised HealthCare Provider must himself/herself bear all expenses through such
treatment.
TREATMENT ON BOARD, SHIP/AIRCRAFT AND ABROAD
070203 – If an officer is embarked by Government or its accredited representative in a sea-going vessel
as an invalid and placed in the charge of the ship’s Surgeon, the latter’s fees for medical attendance on
the officer during the voyage will be payable by the Government.
070204 – (i) Government will consider claims for the refund of medical expenses incurred by officers
and their families during voyages duly authorized by the Government in cases of serious illness occurring
en route and provided that the illness is not attributable to the officer’s or his family’s negligence.
Claims for petty bills incurred on board ships/aircraft will not, however, be entertained.
(ii) In the case of Ministers, Permanent Secretaries and other officials of Government that are involved
in frequent overseas engagements, provision for an annual International Medical Insurance should be
made.
070205 – The Federal Ministry of Health may authorize a refund of medical expenses (including charges
for maintenance) incurred by an officer while on overseas on leave or on duty provided:
(a) the illness was not due to the officer’s own negligence
(b) the illness was attributable to conditions or the climate
overseas
(c) the officer sought to avail himself of the services of the
local National Health Service (where applicable) and could not obtain the requisite
attention thereunder within a reasonable time;
(d) the officer informed the nearest accredited
representative of the Federal Government of Nigeria at the earliest date possible that he was unable to
obtain the requisite attention through the National Health Service; and
(e) the officer showed reasonable diligence, expedition
and economy in seeking and obtaining medical attention.
070206 – (a) Approval for journeys outside Nigeria for medical treatment will only be granted by the
Head of the Civil Service of the Federation. The Federal Ministry of Health should be informed of such
approvals accordingly. This will be confined to, based on the recommendation of the approved
HealthCare Provider, serious cases where a patient’s life is in danger or where the examination is
necessary for diagnosis of difficult cases or to ensure that a patient is fully recovered and able to
undertake the duties of his office. Where the officer is treated as an out-patient, he will be entitled
to estacodeallowance at the appropriate rate.
(b) In exceptional cases where dependants of officers are compelled to travel abroad for medical
treatment/check-up, government involvement will be limited to half of the estimated expenses.
(c) (i) Every application for medical treatment must be supported by a consultant’s report from an
authorized HealthCare Provider. It must be submitted to the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of
Health and by the sponsoring State Government, Federal Government Ministries
orParastatals/Organisations. The Permanent Secretary will then make his recommendations to the Head
of the Civil Service of the Federation. Applications approved will be notified to the applicant by the Head
of the Civil Service of the Federation with copies to Federal Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs and the appropriate Nigerian Mission abroad. As a further control measure, the choice of
consultants/clinic abroad will be made by the Nigerian Mission. However, where contract already exists
between a patient and a consultant, the Mission may endorse the arrangement. The Mission’s Medical
Consultant will vet all bills before settlement to ensure that they are proper and reasonable.
(ii) Conditions for Spouse accompanying ailing officers: Permission may be granted an Officer’s spouse
to accompany him/her at Government expense where the ailing officer is considered to be in life or
death’ condition, in consequence of which immediate medical treatment or hospitalization abroad is
recommended. In such a case, the commitment of the Federal Government shall be limited to the
provision of return air passage for the two of them, together with the payment of estacode rate in
respect of only one spouse, it being assumed that if the patient is hospitalized his or her spouse will
remain in a hotel, or that if the officer remains as an out-patient, the two of them will utilize the same
hotel accommodation. Even then this privilege (by which spouse is permitted to accompany the officer)
shall not be automatic, it being a necessary requirement that a specific approval from the competent
authority must be obtained prior to the journey abroad.
MEDICAL CHECK-UP
(d) (i) Approval for public officers to receive periodic medical check-up at Government expense
abroad will be given by the appropriate authority as stated below:
(ii) Officers for whom Presidential approval is required:
Members of the Council of States;
Members of the Federal Executive Council;
The Inspector-General of Police and his Deputies;
Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission and all full time Chairmen of Government
Establishments;
Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF);
Head of the Civil Service of the Federation;
Permanent Secretaries/Directors-General/Chief Executives;
Officers of the Armed Forces of the rank of Brig. General (or its equivalent) and above;
Auditor-General for the Federation;
Accountant-General of the Federation.
(iii) Officers for whom the President should be informed:
Chief Justice of the Federation;
Justices of the Supreme Court;
Justices of the Court of Appeal;
Senate President;
Speaker of the House of Representatives and
Members of the National Assembly.
(iv) Public Functionaries for Whom the approving Authority is their Permanent Secretaries or Heads of
Extra-Ministerial Office:
All staff in Home Ministries/Extra-Ministerial Offices and officials in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on
Salary Grade Level 12 and above.
The Director of Medical Service and Training of the Ministry of Health will counter-sign the certificate or
recommendation issued by a local consultant which should be attached to the application.
PROCEDURE FOR MEDICAL CHECK-UP
(e) (i) The President’s approval in respect of officers in category (ii) will be conveyed to the Ministries
of Health, Finance and Foreign Affairs and the appropriate Nigerian Mission.
(ii) Officers of the Armed Forces of the rank of Brigadier General (or its equivalent) will submit to the
President their applications through the appropriate Service Chief. Approvals/rejections will be notified
through the same channel.
(iii) Officers in category (d) (iii) above will submit their applications through their Permanent Secretaries
for the Director of Medical Services and Training of the Federal Ministry of Health to counter-sign the
Certificate or recommendation issued by a local consultant which should be attached to the application.
OFFICERS ENTITLED TO MEDICAL CHECK-UP
(f) (i) Officers on Salary Grade Level 16 and above shall undertake mandatory medical check-ups locally
once a year. If as a result of such check-up it is recommended that a further medical consultation and/or
treatment should he undertaken/given abroad, permission to do so may be granted by either the
President or Head of the Civil Service of the Federation as the case may be. Where such officers happen
to be abroad on official business, they may undertake the once-a-year medical check-up abroad,
provided that they obtain prior permission from either the President or Head of the Civil Service of the
Federation, as the case may be, prior to their departure abroad.
(ii) Officers on salary Grade Level 12 to Grade Level 15 are entitled to medical check-ups locally once in
two years. If as a result of such check-up it is recommended that a further medical consultation and/or
treatment should be undertaken/given abroad, permission to so may be granted by the Head of the Civil
Service of the Federation. Where such officers happen to be overseas on official business, they may take
their once-in-two years medical check-up abroad provided that they obtain prior permission
from the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation before the medical consultation takes place, and
provided also that the medical adjacent practitioner to be consulted is one that is recommended by the
Nigerian Mission located in or assigned to the particular country concerned. It should be noted that a
local medical check-up may only be authorized if the applicant chooses a recognised HealthCare
Provider.
(g) Hospital bills in respect of medical check-ups authorized under this Scheme should be settled by
the relevant Ministries/Extra-Ministerial Office. Where such bills are settled by Nigerian Missions
abroad, in the first instance, bilateral arrangements for reimbursement should be made between the
Ministries of Foreign Affairs and the relevant Ministries/Extra-Ministerial Offices.
(h) Relevant sub-head should be created in the Budget to
accommodate the mandatory medical check up of officers.
SECTION 3 – ABSENCE FROM DUTY ON ACCOUNT OF ILLNESS MEDICAL CERTIFICATE
070301 – If an officer is ill and unable to report for duty, he/she shall notify his/her Ministry/Agency in
writing or by any other means of communication. Any prolonged absence from duty on ground of ill-
ness should be supported with any of the following documents:
(a) Excuse Duty Certificate;
(b) Light Duty Certificate;
(c) Medical Certificate of Treatment duly authorized by the HealthCare provider.
An officer who is receiving medical treatment within his/her duty post shall report to his/her
employer, his/her absence within 24 hours. An officer who is receiving medical treatment outside
his/her duty post shall report to his/her employer, his/her absence within 48 hours.
070302 – When an officer presents himself/herself to duly authorized HealthCare Provider for medical
examination, the latter shall examine and treat him/her and if necessary, give him/her either of the
certificates listed in Rule 070301 and if he/she is admitted as an in-patient, the HealthCare Provider shall
inform his/her Ministry/Extra-Ministerial Office.
070303 – When a Ministry/Extra-Ministerial Office reports to a HealthCare Provider that an Officer of
the Ministry/Extra-Ministerial Office is so ill that he/she is physically unable to present himself/herself
for medical examination, the HealthCare Provider shall, as appropriate, either arrange for the officer to
be brought to hospital for examination and treatment or visit the officer to examine and treat him/her.
If the examination results in the officer being admitted to a Hospital as an in-patient, the HealthCare
Provider will so inform the officer’s Ministry/Extra-Ministerial Office, otherwise he/she shall give the
officer whichever of the Certificates listed in Rule 070301 as appropriate.
070304 – When an officer forwards to a Healthcare Provider a report on his/her sickness by the private
practitioner attending to him/her, the Healthcare Provider will, after due consultation with the private
practitioner, issue whichever of the certificates listed in Rule 070301 as appropriate. The period of
excuse or light duty entered on the first certificate issued shall not exceed three days unless the
HealthCare Provider has examined the patient, in which case the period may be for up to seven days.
Each period of extension, thereto, shall not exceed seven days and not more than a total of forty-two
calendar days sick leave may be allowed on such extension. If the officer is still not fit for duty after
forty-three calendar days sick leave, he/she shall be examined by a Medical Board. This shall also apply
to an officer admitted to a Specialist Hospital on the recommendation of a Healthcare Provider.
070305 – On any of the occasions listed in this Rule, the Healthcare Provider shall report the
circumstances to the officer’s Ministry/Extra-Ministerial Office:
(a) When an Officer is admitted to and when he is discharged from a Hospital.
(b) When an officer refuses to carry out or in the
opinion of the HealthCare Provider is neglecting to carry out, the medical advice he has been given.
(c) When in the opinion of the Healthcare Provider an officer is feigning ill-health.
070306 – If for any valid reason it is decided that an officer should be examined by a Medical Board, he
must present himself for examination at the place and time instructed, and must afterwards comply
with recommendation of the Board which will supercede any medical advice already given to him/her by
a Healthcare Provider. An officer who fails to comply with this rule shall render himself/herself liable to
be treated as having been absent without leave.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF MINISTRIES/EXTRA-MINISTERIAL OFFICES
070307 – The Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra-Ministerial Office will arrange for the responsibilities
described in the following four Rules to be allocated to appropriate officers.
070308 – In each Ministry/Extra-Ministerial Office the Administration/Personnel Management Offices
must maintain an up-to-date of the residential addresses of the officers and staff employed there. (See
Rule 070303).
070309 – If an officer’s absence from duty is not explained by him/her within 24 hours, enquiry shall be
made at his recorded address to ascertain the cause of absence.
070310 – Whenever an officer becomes so ill that he/she is physically unable to present himself/herself
for medical examination, the circumstances and his/her whereabout should be reported by his/her
Ministry/Extra-Ministerial Office to the nearest HealthCare Provider.
070311 – When an officer reports that he is prevented from performing his/her duties, he/she should
(unless Rule 070310 applies) be instructed or authorized as explained in Rule 070304 and be provided
with a note requesting the HealthCare Provider to examine and treat him/her.
070312 – When it is desirable to appoint a Medical Board, it is the responsibility of the Permanent
Secretary/Head of Extra-Ministerial Office to initiate action in that regard.
RESPONSIBILITY OF HEALTHCARE PROVIDER
070313 – When an officer presents himself/herself to a HealthCare Provider for Examination, the later
shall examine and treat him/her and given him/her either of the certificates listed in Rule 070301 as the
HealthCare Provider considers appropriate or, if he/she admits him/her to hospital as an in-patient,
inform his/her Ministry/Extra-Ministerial Office.
SICK LEAVE RULES
070314 – An officer not being on leave of absence who is absent from duty on the grounds of ill-health
will, provided such absence is covered by proper authority, by regarded as being absent on sick leave.
070315 – An officer on vacation leave who is prevented from resuming duty at the expiration of his/her
authorized leave by reason of ill-health duly certified by an approved HealthCare Provider may be
granted an extension of leave. An Officer shall be granted sick leave at the expiration of his/her annual
leave.
070316 – (i) The maximum aggregate sick leave which can be allowed an officer, who is not hospitalized,
during any period of twelve months shall be forty-two (42) calendar days. Where such an officer has
been absent from duty on the ground of ill health for an aggregate period in excess of forty-two (42)
calendar days within twelve calendar months, the officer should be made to appear before a Medical
Board with a view to its being ascertained whether he/she should be invalidated from service. Any
period of absence on ground of ill-health in excess of the prescribed aggregate will be without pay and
will not be reckoned for purpose of increment for pension.
(ii) An officer who is incapacitated as a result of injury
sustained in the course of his official duties shall be entitled to draw full salary until he/she is discharged
from sick leave or permanently invalidated.
070317 – (a) An officer who is recommended by a Medical Board or a HealthCare provider to be
permanently invalidated will forthwith commence vacation leave prior to retirement in accordance with
Rule 100217 (b).
(b) Where an officer who is incapacitated in the course of his official duties has not completed the
minimum qualifying service and is not, on the termination of his service, eligible for a pension under the
pensions Reform 2004, the appropriate authority responsible for pension matters, may in lieu of gratuity
stipulated in the relevant pension Schedule, grant to such officer, in addition to injury pension stipulated
in Table C of the Pensions Act and in the said Schedule, pension calculated at the rate of 2% of the
officer’s accrued pension from the date of the officer’s retirement.
070318 – Sick leave for a period up to three months in the first instance may be allowed on the
certificate of an approved HealthCare Provider to an officer who is hospitalized. If at the end of that
period the officer is still hospitalized, his Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra Ministerial Office must
make an arrangement for him to be examined by a Medical Board with a view to its being ascertained
whether he should be invalidated from the service or allowed further paid sick leave.
SECTION 4. – DEATH BENEFITS
070401 – The Government shall repatriate, at the request of the deceased’s family, the corpse of a
Nigerian Officer who dies abroad while on official duty tour or course of instruction, or the corpse of the
spouse of the official who was duly authorised to accompany him/her on the duty tour or course of
instruction. Government’s responsibility shall be limited to the following:
(a) (i) Preparation of the body (embalmment);
(ii) Purchase of a reasonable priced coffin or casket
including inner zinc and wooden coffin as stipulated by Airline Regulations;
(iii) Transportation of the corpse to the officer’s home town at reasonable cost;
(iv) Payment of the cost to the family of the deceased,
not exceeding one full page advert in one National Newspaper for the publication of obituary at the
prevailing rates.
070402 - When a pensionable officer dies in the service of the Government, it shall be the responsibility
of the Government to provide the following:
(i) Cost of burial expenses including; Preparation of the body and
embalmment; settlement of mortuary bills; and provision of coffin/casket subject to the following
maximum amount:
(a) GL.01 – 06 - N100,000.00
(b) GL.07 – 14 - N200,000.00
(c) GL.15 – 17 - N300,000.00
(d) Consolidated - N500,000.00
(ii) Payment to the family of the deceased, cost for one full page
advert in one National Newspaper for the publication of obituary at the prevailing rates.
(iii) Transportation of the corpse to the officer’s home town at reasonable cost.
CHAPTER 8
COMPENSATION AND INSURANCE
SECTION 1 – LOSS OF PROPERTY
SECTION 2 – LOSS OF LIFE
SECTION 1 – LOSS OF PROPERTY
080101 – Officers will not, in general, be entitled to compensation from public funds, for loss of
property in circumstances arising outside of their services, and as such officers may consider the
possibility of insuring their property against any type of loss or damage.
SECTION 2 – LOSS OF LIFE
080201 – Where an officer dies after the completion of the minimum period of qualifying service, there
shall be paid to his/her legal representative or any person designated by him/her during his/her life time
as his/her Next of kin, his entitlements under the life insurance policy maintained under Section 9 of
Sub-Section (3) of the Pension Reform Act 2004.
080202 – (a) If the motor vehicle of an officer, whilst being used for official duties, is damaged as the
direct result of civil disturbances, Government will accept responsibility for such damage. For the
purpose of this Rule, “Official duties” will be deemed to include journeys between house and office.
(b) If an officer’s private vehicle while being used for
official duties is damaged beyond repairs as a result of accident, the government shall accept
responsibility to the extent of the difference between the indemnity covered by the insurance and the
cost of replacing the vehicle.
080203 – The following persons when travelling by air, land or sea at Government expense will be
eligible for free insurance cover to be provided by the Ministry/Extra-Ministerial Office of the staff
concerned as follows:
Traveller Capital Benefits
Staff N2,000.000
Wife of Staff N1,000.000
Child of Staff N1,000.000
Non-Official N1,000.000
NYSC N1,000.000
080204 – A passenger travelling to and from any destination inside or outside Nigeria with the authority
of Government, free insurance cover for the capital benefits, prescribed in Rule 080203, will be
automatic and will not require the completion of any formalities by the passenger. If the passenger
wishes to arrange excess of the capital benefits provided by Government he must do so privately and at
his own expense.
080205 – The free cover referred to in Rule 080204 above is provided for a period of normal travel time
only, though this is automatically extended when the passenger is delayed due to no fault of his own.
Where a traveler takes advantage of “stop-over” facilities and so does not reach his destination during
the nominal travel time, the insurance cover lapses at the first place of stop-over. All officers to whom
Rule 080204 applies and who make stop-over en route to or from a country outside Nigeria should
therefore make their own arrangements for insurance from the place of stop-over onwards. Refunds of
the extra premium so incurred will only be made in respect of the capital benefits prescribed in Rule
080203.
CHAPTER 9
PETITIONS AND APPEALS
SECTION 1 – GENERAL
SECTION 2 – PETITION RULES
SECTION 1 – GENERAL
090101 – Every officer who has any representations of a public or private nature to make to the
Government should address them to:
(a) The Chairman, Federal Civil Service Commission, in
respect of matters relating to appointments (including acting appointments) promotion, transfer and
discipline; or
(b) The Head of Civil Service of the Federation on matters
relating to other conditions of service. e.g. leave, passages, allowances, pensions, gratuities, etc.
090102 – Any officer in the Federal Public Service may address the Head of Government, in which case
he/she must transmit such communication, unsealed and in triplicate to any of the channels mentioned
in the preceding rule requesting that the petition be forwarded in due course to the Head of
Government. Every letter, or document which may be received by the Head of Government otherwise
than through the proper channel will be returned to the writer. The rule requiring transmission of
communications to the Head of Government through the appropriate channel is based on the strongest
grounds of public convenience, in order that all communications may be duly verified as well as reported
on or before they reach the Head of Government. It extends therefore to communications relating to
public affairs as well as to the concerns of the writer.
SECTION 2 – PETITION RULES
090201 – (i) For the purpose of this section a “petition” is a formal appeal to ultimate authority, that is,
to the Head of Government for special consideration of a matter affecting an officer personally. It must
be distinguished from a letter of representation addressed to an appropriate senior officer of
Government in the normal way.
(ii) Without prejudice to their constitutional rights, officers
should as much as possible exhaust all avenues provided in the Public Service Rules and Circulars of
redress before proceeding to courts.
090202 – Petitions by an officer (or by an ex-officer on matters relating to his/her conditions of
employment as an officer or his/her condition as a pensioner of Government) must be submitted in
accordance with the rules set out in this section.
090203 – An officer must not attempt to bring political or other outside influence to support his
individual claims. If he/she is dissatisfied, his/her proper course is to make representations to his/her
immediate superior officer or Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra-Ministerial Office. If his/her
representations are not successful, it is open to him/her to submit a formal petition to the appropriate
authority under Rule 090101.
090204 – A petition must be submitted through the proper departmental channels, namely through the
petitioner’s immediate superior officer and the Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra Ministerial Office,
who will forward the petition with his/her comments and recommendations to the Chairman of the
Federal Civil Service Commission or the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation in accordance with
administrative instructions in force at the time. It is in the petitioner’s interest that the above
mentioned rule concerning the routing of a petition should be strictly observed in order that the petition
will be duly verified and reported on before it reaches the final destination.
090205 – A petition addressed to any of the channel mentioned in the preceding rule must be submitted
in duplicate, and an advance copy may be sent direct to the appropriate authority. In either case, one-
copy will be retained by the Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra-Ministerial Office.
090206 – A petition must bear the full name, staff number, signature and address of the petitioner.
When written by a person other than the petitioner, the signature and address of the writer must be
included.
090207 – When a person submits a petition above his/her own signature on behalf of an illiterate, the
petition should contain a statement that he/she has been asked to write on behalf of the illiterate.
090208 – (a) A petition will not be entertained if it:
(i) does not comply with Rule 090201:
(ii) deals with a case in which legal action is pending in a Court of Law;
(iii) is illegible or meaningless.
(iv) is worded in abusive, improper, or foul language; or
(v) merely repeats the substance of a previous petition
without introducing new relevant matter.
(b) A petition submitted more than six months after the decision complained of has been given, will
also not be entertained, unless such delay is supported by valid reasons.
090209 – A petition should conclude by stating concisely the nature of the redress sought, and a petition
which exceeds in length two pages of foolscap must also include a summary of the reasons adduced in
support of the redress sought.
CHAPTER 10
LEAVE
SECTION 1 – GENERAL
SECTION 2 – TYPES OF LEAVE
SECTION 1 – GENERAL
100101 – “Leave” is the authorized absence of an officer from duty for specific period as provided for in
this Chapter.
100102 – “Leave Address” is a place where an officer could be reached during his/her leave period.
100103 – “Earned Leave” is the leave due to an officer in a year for the service rendered to Government.
100104 – “Leave-Earning Service” is a qualifying period of duty before officers could be granted leave.
100105 – “The Date of Resumption of Duty” is the date following the date of expiration of the leave.
100106 – “Leave Year” is the period between 1st January and 31st December.
SECTION 2 – TYPES OF LEAVE
100201 – The types of leave in the Federal Public Service are as follows:-
(a) Annual Leave
(b) Proportionate Leave (Pro-rata Leave);
(c) Deferred Leave;
(d) Casual Leave;
(e) Sick Leave;
(f) Maternity Leave;
(g) Examination Leave;
(h) Sabbatical Leave;
(i) Study Leave with Pay
(j) Study Leave without Pay;
(k) Leave on Compassionate Ground;
(l) Pre-retirement Leave;
(m) Leave of Absence;
(n) Leave on Grounds of Urgent Private Affairs;
(o) Leave for Cultural and Sporting Activities;
(p) Leave to take part in Trade Union Activities;
100202 – Annual Leave is the absence of an officer from duty for a period specified in Rule 100203 as
may be authorized by a superior officer.
100203 – Annual Leave shall be granted to an officer in accordance with his grade level as follows:
(a) GL 07 and above – 30 calendar days
(b) GL 04 - 06 – 21 Calendar days
(c) GL 03 and Below – 14 calendar days
(ii) An officer shall qualify for Annual Leave not less than six months after the previous leave within a
leave earning service year.
100204 – (a) It is the responsibility of the Head of the Department of Administration/Personnel to draw
up the Annual Leave Roster for all officers in that Ministry/Extra-Ministerial Office;
(b) It is the responsibility of every Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra-Ministerial Office to approve the
Leave Roster for the coming year not later than the 31st December.
100205 – Leave will be granted at any time during the leave year. Normally, the full leave will be taken
at one time but it may be taken in not more than two installments. Any leave not taken within the
calendar year concerned will be forfeited. No officer is allowed to accumulate leave.
100206 – An officer who desires to spend his/her annual leave abroad shall inform the Permanent
Secretary/Head of Extra- Ministerial Office before proceeding on vacation and shall provide details of
his/her address.
100207 – An officer spending his/her leave within or outside Nigeria must furnish the Permanent
Secretary/Head of Extra-Ministerial Office with his/her intended destination or leave address before
proceeding on leave.
100208 – An officer is required to resume duty after vacation leave on the date following the expiration
of his/her authorized leave.
100209 – An officer may be required to return to duty before the expiration of his/her authorized leave
by the Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra Ministerial Office. Any portion of his/her leave so curtailed
shall be taken immediately and not later than ninety (90) days of completion of the assignment.
100210 – On return from annual leave, every officer must complete and submit a Resumption of Duty
Certificate (From L.10) to his/her Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra Ministerial Office who will endorse
and forward the form to the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) or to the
relevant pool office.
100211 – “Proportionate Leave” (Pro-rata) is a vacation granted to a new or retiring officer in proportion
to the number of days he/she has put into the service. Any period of service under 30 days is not
reckonable. The calculation of proportionate leave shall be done in accordance with the table below:
TABLE 1: Calculation of Proportionate Leave as in the Current PSR and the Proposed Amendment.
Proportionate Leave for Graded Officers
GL 07 & Above GL 04 - 06 GL 03 and Below (30 Calendar Days) (21 Calendar
Days) (14 Calendar Days)
12 months 30 21 14
11 months 28 19 13
10 months 25 18 12
9 months 23 16 11
8 months 20 14 9
7 months 18 13 8
6 months 15 11 7
5 months 12 9 6
4 months 10 8 5
3 months 7 6 4
2 months 5 4 3
1 months 3 2 1
The computation is based on calendar days.
100212 – (a) An officer who joins the Federal Public Service during the course of the Leave Year will not
normally be granted an annual leave but a proportionate leave. The proportionate leave allowance shall
be based on the number of earned leave days.
(b) Officers who attend courses of instruction/training over
a period of six months shall be entitled to proportionate leave for the period they put in service.
(c) An officer who is retiring within the period of Leave-
Earning Service shall be entitled to proportionate leave.
100213 – (a) Deferred Leave is that which an officer is granted in exceptional circumstances by the
Permanent Secretary or Head of Extra-Ministerial Office to carry forward to the next leave year because
of exigency of duty. It could be part of annual leave not fully exhausted or any leave approved for
deferment.
(b) Authorized deferred leave may be commuted to cash
only where an officers has been made to retire prematurely and cannot spend all his/her deferred leave
before his/her retirement.
100214 – Casual Leave is the absence of an officer from duty for a short period not exceeding an
aggregate of 7 calendar days within a leave year as may be authorized by a superior officer. The casual
leave shall only be granted after an officer has exhausted his/her annual leave. Casual leave is
deductible in advance or arrears of earned leave.
100215 – A maximum of seven days casual leave shall be granted in any leave year. Casual leave in
excess of seven days in any leave year may be granted only by the Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra
Ministerial Office.
100216 – Sick Leave is the absence of an officer from duty on account of ill-health as authorized by a
Healthcare Provider.
100217 – Maternity Leave is the authorised absence from duty of a serving female officer granted by a
superior officer on account of pregnancy covering the prenatal and postnatal periods.
100218 – A female staff that is pregnant is entitled to 16 weeks maternity leave at a stretch beginning
not less that 4 weeks from the expected date of delivery with full pay. A medical certificate showing the
expected date of confinement must be presented not less than two months before that date. The
annual leave for that year will, however, be regarded as part of the maternity leave. Where this annual
leave has already been enjoyed before the grant of maternity leave that part of the maternity leave
equivalent to the annual leave will be without pay.
100219 – Any female officer who is nursing a child shall be granted two hours off-duty every day. This
facility shall be granted up to maximum period of six months from the date she resumes duty from
maternity leave.
100220 – An officer may be granted special leave for the purpose of taking an examination, which
he/she is required to pass by the condition of his/her appointment.
100221 – An officer may be allowed special leave with full pay to take an examination, the passing of
which is not a condition of his/her current appointment, provided that his/her Permanent
Secretary/Head of Extra Ministerial Office certifies the following:
(a) that the passing of the examination is likely to enhance
his/her value to the Service;
(b) evidence of admission for the course;
(c) evidence of a time-table for the examination.
100222 – Sabbatical leave is the absence of an officer on GL.15 or equivalent and above from duty, for
the purpose of research either within or outside Nigeria. The officer on sabbatical leave shall be
qualified to undertake properly organized study in arrears relevant to the interest of the service or
national development for a period of twelve months once in five years.
100223 – Study Leave is the leave granted to a confirmed serving officer to
undertake an approved course of study within or outside the country.
100224 – There are three types of study leave:
(a) In-service Training;
(b) Studying leave with pay;
(c) Study leave without pay.
An officer may be granted study leave with pay, study leave without pay or in-service training provided
that his/her Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra-Ministerial Office certifies the following:
(i) evidence of letter of admission;
(ii) evidence of duration of the course
(iii) that the course is necessary to enhance the performance
of the officer and to add value to the service;
(iv) that the course is relevant to the officer ‘s profession.
100225 – Officers shall be granted in service training for a period not exceeding two years with normal
emoluments, allowances and course fees. The period of study shall count towards gratuity and pension.
100226 – Study leave with pay shall be granted to an officer with normal emoluments and allowances.
The duration of study leave with pay shall not exceed two years. If, however, an officer has a carry-over,
the period of extension shall not be more than one year. The period of extension shall also attract
pension, right of emoluments and allowances.
100227 – Officers are granted study leave without pay where the proposed courses of study are not
contained in the approved training proposals for their Ministries/Extra-Ministerial Office.
100228 – The conditions for approval of study leave without pay are as follows:
(a) officers on duty leave without pay are not entitled to
emoluments and allowances.
(b) the duration of study leave without pay shall not be
more than four years in the first instance, after which the officer can apply for one year extension if the
need arises.
(c) The period of study shall not be regarded as a break in Service.
100229 – Officers going on religious pilgrimages other than Officials assigned to cover such activities
should use part of their annual leave for such purposes.
100230 – An officer may be allowed special leave from duty on full pay on compassionate ground for a
period up to two weeks for burial of spouse/child/parents/parents of spouse.
100231 – Leave of Absence is absence of an officer from duty authorized on grounds of public policy. All
such leave shall be approved by the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, on the recommendation of
the Permanent Secretary or Head of Ministerial Office.
100232 – The various types of leave of absence are:
(a) Leave of Absence to join spouse on course of
instruction of not less than 9 moths duration abroad.
(b) Special Leave of Absence to join spouse on grounds of public Policy.
(c) Leave of Absence on grounds of Public policy for
Technical Aid Programme.
(d) Leave of Absence for Special/ Personal Assistant on
grounds of Public Policy.
(e) Leave of Absence for spouse of Presidents, Vice
Presidents, Governors, Deputy Governors, on grounds of Public Policy.
100233 – An officer who is also a public servant shall be permitted to join his/her spouse proceeding
abroad on a course of instruction. The officer is eligible for free passage at Government expense where
the course of instruction is not less than nine (9) months.
100234 – On grounds of public policy, the spouse of a serving officer may be granted leave without pay
for a period not exceeding five years to enable him/her join his/her spouse on posting abroad on the
following conditions:
(a) that the officer’s spouse be disallowed from taking up
gainful employment;
(b) that such leave shall not be regarded as break in service;
(c) where such spouses improve themselves by acquiring
additional qualifications, which will enhance their usefulness to the service, they shall be considered for
advancement in consonance with the prevailing regulations;
(d) the period a spouse can be on leave of absence shall
be four years in the first instance and subject to an extension of not more than one year.
100235 – A number of civil servants may be selected for the Technical Aid Corps Programme by the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In Order to preserve the terminal benefits of the officers so selected and
ensure the continuity of their service, such officers shall be granted leave of absence on grounds of
Public policy.
100236 – Appointees of Federal Public Service who accept appointment as Special or Personal Assistants
are required to apply to the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation for leave of absence on grounds
of Public Policy if they intend to return to the service at the end of the assignment.
100237 – The spouses of the President, Vice President, Governors, Deputy Governors who are public
servants are required to apply to the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation for leave of absence on
grounds of public policy to join their spouses during their tenure of office.
100238 – Officers are required to give three months notice to retire from service before the effective
date of retirement. At the commencement of three months, officers should proceed immediately on the
mandatory one-month pre-retirement workshop/seminar. For the remaining two months, retiring
officers are expected to take necessary measures to put their records straight so as to facilitate the
speedy processing of their retirement benefits.
100239 – Where a Medical Board recommends that an officer is medically unfit to continue in service
and for that reason be disengaged, he/she will forthwith commence vacation leave prior to retirement.
The length of leave granted will be either:
(a) his/her deferred leave, if any, plus the proportion of
his/her annual leave calculation in accordance with Rule 100211; or
(b) two months;
which ever is of greater length. The leave will commence on the day on which the Medical Board
declares him/her unfit to continue in Service and retirement will take effect from its expiration.
100240 – An officer who without an acceptable excuse fails to resume duty on the
approved date after vacation leave will be regarded as absent without leave and without pay. The
period of absence as may not be set against any future leave, nor saved with the permission of
Government, against any deferred leave already standing to the officer’s credit. No officer may extend
his vacation leave beyond the date specified in his leave advice without the consent of his/her
Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra Ministerial Office.
100241 – Officers who are dismissed shall not be entitled to any form of leave.
100242 – Annual vacation leave shall be based on calendar days only.
100243 – The period of any other leave such as casual leave, sick leave, maternity leave etc. granted
under these rules shall be inclusive of Saturday, Sundays and Public Holidays occurring therein.
CHAPTER 11
FREE TRANSPORT FACILITIES WITHIN NIGERIA
SECTION 1 – DEFINITIONS AND GENERAL
SECTION 2 – FREE TRANSPORT FACILITIES AVAILABLE
SECTION 3 – MISCELLANEOUS RULES REGARDING FREE TRANSPORT FACILITIES
SECTION 1 – DEFINITIONS AND GENERAL
DEFINITIONS
110101 – In this chapter the following terms are used with the meaning defined in this Rule.
END OF TOUR
NIGERIAN DESTINATION
OVERSEAS LEAVE
RESUMPTION/ASSUMPTION OF DUTY
VACATION LEAVE
The following terms are used with the following meanings:
“Cheaper Point” – The term “cheaper point” means a place which may be substituted for an officer’s
Nigerian home place as the starting point or destination of a journey at Government expense. Such
substitution in transport facilities actually provided in respect of the journey should involve neither
greater cash disbursement by Government nor more excessive use of Government transport services
than would be involved by providing similar facilities from or to the officer’s Nigerian home place.
“Loads” – The baggage allowances set out in this Chapter are given in terms of carrier “loads”. In cases
where freight rates are related to weight, the load allowances should be converted on the basis that one
load weights 25 kilograms. In cases where freight rates are related to cubic capacity, the load
allowances should be converted on the basis that one load occupies 3/25 cubic metres.
GENERAL
ECONOMY IN USE OF TRANSPORT
110102. – The necessity for any journey at Government expense should be fully established before the
use of transport at Government expense is authorised.
110103. - (a) The transport and route authorised for a journey at Government expenses must be
determined by the cost, and exigency of duty.
(b) Air transport may only be used on journeys which justify
its use.
AUTHORITY FOR USE OF TRANSPORT
110104. – Authority for the use of transport facilities at Government expense shall be given in writing by
Permanent Secretaries/Heads of Extra-Ministerial Offices or their authorised preventatives in
accordance with the provisions of Financial Regulations.
110105. – The free transport facility authorised must not exceed that for which provision is made in
these Public Service Rules. If an officer wishes to avail himself of transport facilities in excess of those
provided by the Public Service Rules, or facilities not provided by the Rules, he must pay for such
facilities himself in advance. The Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra-Ministerial Office should ensure
that the free transport facilities authorised do not exceed the maximum allowed by these Rules, and
also do not exceed those actually required for the journey in question. In particular when the facilities
include free fare for children, the age of each child concerned must be ascertained and specified.
110106. – Any officer who utilizes any part of the free transport facilities provided under these Public
Service Rules for a purpose other than that for which it is authorized or who, having received a cash
payment in advance to defray the cost of such facilities, fails to refund on demand any part thereof not
used to defray the cost of the specific facility for which he received it, or who claims payment in arrears
in respect of any such facility he/she has not utilized for the purpose claimed, is guilty of gross
misconduct.
110107 – No staff may travel at Government expense in the capacity of Orderly or
personal attendants to another officer unless the employment of such person has been authorized by
the Office of Establishments and Management Services.
SECTION 2 - FREE TRANSPORT FACILITIES AVAILABLE
110201 – Subject to Rules 110102 and 110103, the free transport facilities for which officers are eligible
are in respect of all journeys in Nigeria. Such journeys would entail the following:
(a) the family passenger fare allowances are for one spouse
and four children;
(b) the baggage allowance includes and is not additional to
the tariff baggage allowances of a passenger ticket holder;
(c) the baggage allowance for a spouse, child or servant
only applies when the wife, child or servant actually travels.
TYPES OF JOURNEY
110202 – For the purpose of the transport facilities specified in Rule 110204 the following types of
journeys will be regarded as being on duty:
(a) all journeys undertaken in the course of an officer’s
duty on specific instructions from his Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra-Ministerial Office or his/her
local representative;
(b) journeys to obtain dental treatment;
(c) journeys to consult a medical officer; that is, journeys
to and from the nearest approved HealthCare Provider where an officer is stationed or on leave at a
place without medical facilities and his local superior officer certifies that in his/her opinion the officer
should consult a doctor;
(d) journeys to obtain hospital treatment: that is, journeys
to and from hospital when an approved healthcare Provider certifies that it is necessary for the officer
to leave his station and proceed to the hospital in question for medical treatment;
(e) journeys undertaken by spouse and children of an officer
to obtain dental or hospital treatment and to consult a healthcare Provider as in (b), (c) and (d) above;
(f) health trips: that is, journeys by an officer recommended
by a Medical Board to leave his station for a change of scene or climate.
110203 – For the purpose of these Rules journeys to new stations will be deemed to include:
(a) journeys undertaken when assuming duty on first
appointment (i.e. journeys to station from place of engagement or Nigerian home place);
(b) journeys undertaken when proceeding on retirement (in
circumstances which render the officer eligible for retirement benefits) or for the purpose of
repatriating the family, and personal effects of deceased officers: that is, journeys from station to place
of original engagement (if desired) or cheaper point (see definitions), Nigerian home place, Nigerian
destination of final leave, whichever is appropriate, provided such concession is utilized within six
months of the date of retirement or of the death of the officer.
110204 – For journeys specified in Rule 110202, the following free transport facilities are available:
(a) For journeys by Air: tickets for the officer, one spouse
and four children by the following class of travel:
(i) Business Class for Permanent Secretaries, Ministers and above.
(ii) Economy Class for officers on GL.07-17.
(iii) Economy Class for spouse and four children when
travelling with the officer.
(b) For journeys by Road or River Transport: Officers on
GL.06 and below, either tickets or cash in lieu of tickets at rates laid down from time to time in the
appropriate Federal Treasury circulars.
110205 – An officer, serving at a station where adequate motor repair facilities are not available, for
whom a motor vehicle is necessary for the proper performance of the duties of his/her office, may be
allowed, on the authority of his/her Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra-Ministerial Office, free
transport for his motor vehicle or part thereof to and from the nearest place where such facilities exist,
for the purpose of effecting necessary repairs. Normally, this Rules will not apply to motor vehicles
requiring ordinary maintenance or servicing but an exception may be made at the discretion of the
Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra-Ministerial Office in cases where it is necessary for a vehicle to
receive essential large scale servicing (for example, in the case of a new vehicle after the first
1000 kilometres).
110206 – Subject to the principles laid down in Rule 110102, free transport by train or boat for an
officer’s own motor vehicle may be granted by a Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra Ministerial Office
when an officer is purchasing a new vehicle. When an officer is assuming duty or is travelling on transfer,
or on tour, or duty, free transport of his motor vehicle may be allowed by Government if the Permanent
Secretary/Head of Extra-Ministerial Office is satisfied that:
(a) the vehicle is necessary for the duty; and
(b) the transport of the vehicle is connected with the most
economical means of transporting the officer while performing the duty (for example, when it costs
Government less to transport the vehicle to those places in the officer’s itinerary where he/she can use
it for his/her own transport than to hire a vehicle at such places for this purpose).
SECTION 3 – MISCELLANEOUS RULES REGARDING FREE TRANSPORT FACILITIES
110301 – When an officer requires to take with him/her loads which are necessary for the efficient
performance of his/her duties (e.g. office equipment, survey instruments, tents, etc.) he/she may do so
at the discretion of his Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra Ministerial Office.
110302 – When it is necessary for the efficient performance of his/her duties, an officer travelling on
duty by air may take with him/her at Government expense official documents, papers and office
necessities up to a maximum of 10 kilograms in addition to the tariff baggage allowance included in
his/her passenger ticket.
110303 – When proceeding on transfer an officer may be provided with free Government transport in
his/her station between his/her house and airport, sea-port or motor park and vice versa on his/her
arrival at his new station. Where Government transport cannot be provided, the officer may be
reimbursed at rates approved by the appropriate authorities.
CHAPTER 12
COURSES OF INSTRUCTION WITHIN AND OUTSIDE NIGERIA
SECTION 1 – GENERAL
SECTION 2 – DUTY VISITS OUTSIDE NIGERIA
SECTION 3 – COURSES OF INSTRUCTION OUTSIDE AND WITHIN
NIGERIA
SECTION 1 – GENERAL
120101 – This chapter applies to occasions on which officers are required with prior approval of
Government:
(a) to undertake special duty abroad;
(b) to discharge official duties during vacation leave abroad;
(c) to be on a delegation or visit to an organization abroad
for a short period;
(d) to undertake course of instruction abroad including
attachment to an organization abroad.
In such an event, the officer shall be eligible for appropriate estacode allowance at the prevailing rates.
PROCEDURE
120102 – (i) Overseas duty tour by all Public servants and estacode allowance payable shall be subject
to the approval of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation on the recommendation of the
Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra-Ministerial Office of the Officer. In the case of other public officers,
approval shall be obtained from the President or Secretary to the Government of the Federation as the
case may be.
(ii) Before an officer on leave outside Nigeria undertakes official visit, prior approval of the Head of
the Civil Service of the Federation shall be obtained. The application for permission shall specify:
(a) details of the visit, duty or courses proposed;
(b) why the visit, duty or course is considered warranted
in the public interest;
(c) the approximate dates on which it is proposed the officer
should arrive in and depart from the country in which the duty or course is to be undertaken;
(d) the officer’s address whilst absent from Nigeria;
(e) the probable duration of the duty or course;
(f) the total estimated cost including all travelling expenses,
and fees (if any).
120103 – An officer required to undertake duties or a course of instruction outside Nigeria must be
furnished by his Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra-Ministerial Office with detailed instructions
regarding such duties or course and be informed in advance and in writing of the allowances and
travelling facilities for which he/she will be eligible at Government expense in connection therewith.
120104 – Where an officer is required during his/her vacation leave to undertake any duty, the period of
duty will be leave-earning and not leave-consuming. A period of duty outside Nigeria during an officer’s
tour will be regarded as part of his tour (See also Rule 100103).
120105 – The normal effect on the amount of leave due to an officer of his attending a course of
instruction during his vacation leave is specified in Rule 100103.
SECTION 2 – DUTY VISITS OUTSIDE NIGERIA
120201 – An officer on duty visit outside Nigeria shall be granted the following:
(a) Passages: Air passage for himself only; but where the
duration of an officer’s duties is not less than 9 months, his wife may accompany him at Government
expense.
(b) Transport: Reimbursement of actual expenditure or
transport essential to the business of the visit.
Where, however, the cost of accommodation or hotel expenses of an officer travelling abroad is met by
the host Government or institution, such officer shall be entitled to Estacode Supplementation
allowance at the approved rates.
120202 – An officer who, with prior approval of Government, discharges official duties during vacation
leave outside Nigeria and who is obliged to take accommodation away from his/her normal place of
residence or home, will be treated as proceeding to such a destination on duty visit and will be eligible
for duty allowance abroad as indicated in Rule 120201 so long as no accommodation is provided at
Government expense at such a destination.
120203 – An officer for whom accommodation is provided who, with the prior approval of Government,
discharges official duties during his/her vacation leave outside Nigeria is eligible for a refund of daily
travelling expenses necessarily incurred in the discharge of such duties plus a daily subsistence
allowance at the appropriate rate.
SECTION 3 – COURSES OF INSTRUCTION OUTSIDE AND WITHIN NIGERIA
120301 – An officer who is permitted to attend a course of instruction is eligible for the benefits set out
in this Section provided that he/she has signed an agreement to refund to Government all expenses
connected therewith if he:
(a) does not obtain a certificate of satisfactory attendance
at the course; or
(b) does not return to Nigeria; or
(c) undertakes any other course of instruction without the
specific approval of the Government; or
(d) resigns from the Service within a period of three years
of his completing such a course.
120302 – A senior officer sent overseas on a course of instruction will be eligible for free air passage for
himself/herself only; but where the duration of the course of instruction is not less than nine months,
his/her spouse may accompany him/her at Government expense.
120303 – Special rates of allowance, etc. are prescribed from time to time for certain courses of
instruction, and they apply to all officers attending the courses in question.
120304 – Officers who with the prior approval of Government attend courses of instruction (other than
one to which Rules 120303 applies) are entitled to be paid the difference between their
normal estacode allowance and the allowance/facilities offered by the donor country where the later is
lower than the officered by the donor county where the latter is lower than the official estacode.
120305 – An officer undergoing a training course overseas who receives a salary from an employer in
the overseas country will not be eligible for any salary or allowance from the Federal Government
except as may be specifically approved by the Permanent Secretary, Office of Establishments and
Pension.
120306 – Course of instruction within Nigeria is a course which an officer takes locally but outside
his/her Station at any Federal Training Centre, University or approved Public Service training institution.
120307 - A female officer who is about to undertake a course of training of not more than six months
duration shall be called upon to enter into an agreement to refund the whole or part of the cost of the
course in the event of her course being interrupted on grounds of pregnancy.
120308 – Where training facilities under a foreign Government’s technical assistance scheme is
required, all application forms for the nomination of candidates will be forwarded to the National
Planning Commission for processing.
120309 – Officers attending courses of instruction under a technical assistance scheme will continue to
receive their emoluments while all other conditions of service will be decided in accordance with the
existing arrangements between the door government and the Federal Government.
120310 – Where an officer is permitted on the recommendation of his/her Permanent Secretary/Head
of Extra-Ministerial Office to take a course of instruction at the officer’s own request, special conditions
may be imposed. These conditions will be decided by the Office of Establishments and Pensions and may
include the grant of leave without pay and the withdrawal of all or any of the allowances or other
privileges prescribed in this Chapter. In such cases it is the responsibility of the Permanent
Secretary/Head of Extra-Ministerial Office to inform the officer in writing, before his departure of the
conditions which have been decided.
120311 – For postgraduate courses, in exceptional cases, officers shall be granted study leave with pay
subject to a maximum of two years. However, officers engaged in private studies for higher degrees
shall not be hindered provided their studies do not interfere with official duties.
CHAPTER 13
ALLOWANCES
130101 – (a) An allowance is a monetary benefit other than salary granted to an officer for a special
purpose.
(b) All Allowances provided for in this Chapter shall be subject to periodic review by the National
Salary, Income Wages Commission through the issuance of appropriate circulars.
(c) Resettlement Allowance previously known as Disturbance allowance should be paid or treated as an
emolument. It shall only be paid where an officer is posted or transferred in a circumstance that is
established or confirmed that his/her living condition has been disturbed.
130102 – The following allowances are payable to officers in the Federal Public Service:
(a) Kilometres Allowance;
(b) Disengagement Allowance;
(c) Hotel Accommodation Allowance;
(d) Duty Tour Allowance;
(e) Transport and Local Running Allowance;
(f) Estacode Allowance;
(g) Estacode Supplementary Allowance;
(h) Warm Clothing Allowance;
(i) Local Course Allowance;
(j) Books Allowance;
(k) Projects Allowance;
(l) Responsibility Allowance;
(m) Overtime Allowance;
(n) Uniform Allowance;
(o) Call Duty Allowance;
(p) Acting Allowance;
(q) Resettlement Allowance;
(r) Teaching Allowance;
130103 – Kilometre allowance shall be paid to newly appointed officers reporting to their duty station;
retiring officers from duty; officers undertaking responsibility using their cars and on transfer or posting
at the rates specified in the extant circular.
130104 - Disengagement allowance shall be paid to an officer proceeding on retirement from service at
uniform rates of 5% of annual basic emolument plus authorised allowance as stated in Rule 130103.
130105 - Officers on posting, transfer or on assumption of duty on new appointment at their new
station, different from their city/town of domicile shall be entitled to transport fare for self, spouse and
a maximum of four children. In addition, they shall be eligible for hotel accommodation for the first 28
days or an allowance for the first 28 days in lieu of hotel accommodation as specified in the extant
circular.
130106 - Duty Tour allowance is granted to enable officers pay for lodging and feeding expenses during
official tours duly approved by the official authority. The rates applicable are as may be specified in the
extant circular.
130107 - (a) All officers are entitled to airfare, depending on the exigencies of the assignment and with
the approval of the Accounting Officer.
(b) Transport allowance shall be paid to all officers when travelling to towns and cities where air
transport services do not exist at the rates specified in the extant circular.
(c) For the purpose of local running, officers shall be granted 30% of their duty tour allowance in
addition to airport taxi, at the prevailing rates.
130108 - (a) Officers shall be eligible for estacode allowance subject to the approval of the Head of the
Civil Service of the Federation, on the recommendation of the Permanent Secretary/Head of the Extra-
Ministerial Office. In the case of the other Public Officers, approval shall be obtained from the Secretary
to the Government of the Federation.
(b) Estacode allowance shall be payable at the rates specified in the extant circular.
(c) Where a Minister, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Head of the Civil Service,
Permanent Secretary or Director General who is on official assignment outside the country decides that
the Ministry, Extra-Ministerial Department or Agency should arrange for his/her accommodation and
feeding, he/she shall be paid 25% of the entitled estacode allowance.
130109 - An officer on duty visit outside Nigeria shall be granted:
(a) Air passage for himself/herself only; but where the
duration of the officer’s duty is not less than 9 months, his/her spouse may accompany him/her at
public expense;
(b) Reimbursement of actual expenditure or transport
essential to the business of the visit; and
(c) Estacode Allowance.
130110 - Where the cost of accommodation or hotel expenses of an officer travelling abroad is met by
the host Government or institution, such officer shall be entitled to estacode supplementation
allowance as follows:
(a) Where the donor providing the training as a form of
technical assistance to Nigeria also provides free boarding and lodging, the officer concerned shall be
entitled to 10 per cent of his/her appropriateestacode for the whole duration of his course; in other
words, no full estacode for the first 28 days is payable;
(b) Where the donor providing the training provides free
lodging alone, the officer concerned throughout the whole duration of his/her course shall be paid 40%
of his estacode to meet boarding and incidental expenses (full estacode for first 28 days not payable;
(c) Where the donor provides free lodging plus cash
allowance, the officer will claim the cash difference
between the cash payment by the donor
Government and the 30 per cent of his/her appropriate estacode (no full estacode for the first 28 days);
(d) However, where the donor merely gives the officer cash
towards the cost of boarding and lodging and other incidentals, the officer is entitled to receive the
difference between the total cash paid his/her, by the host Government, and the estacode
rate payable to him by Nigerian Government, i.e. he/she will receive full estacode for the first 28 days
and 30 per cent of his/her appropriate estacode for the remaining period of the course, less the cash
payment made to him/her by the donor.
130111 – For journeys outside Nigeria, the following travelling days shall apply:
(a) For African Countries 2 days (to and fro)
(b) For European Countries 2 days (to and fro)
(c) Asia and American Countries 4 days (to and fro)
130112 – (a) An officer who is required by Government to proceed to a foreign country on duty or on
an approved course of instruction will be eligible for a warm clothing allowance as may be specified in
the extant circular.
(b) The Warm Clothing allowance is not payable to an officer under the following conditions:
(i) if the duty or course is undertaken during the period of
the officer’s normal vacation leave spent in a country with a cold or temperate climate;
(ii) if the duty or course is entered upon as a result of the
officer’s own application and is taken in conjunction with his/her normal vacation leave;
(iii) if the duty or course which the officer is directed to
undertake, takes place earlier than three years from the date on which he/she drew warm clothing
allowance.
130113 – (a) Local Course of instruction is a course which an officer takes locally in Nigeria but outside
his/her station.
(b) An officer attending a local course of instruction at any
Federal Training Center, University or other approved Public Service Training Institutions is eligible for
Training Allowance as follows:
(i) For courses exceeding 28 days and where boarding
and lodging are not provided by the Training Institutions, officers will be entitled to 30% of the Duty
Tour Allowance for the first 28 days and such rates as may be specified in the relevant circulars
thereafter.
(ii) For courses not exceeding 28 days and where boarding
and lodging are not provided by the Training Institute, officers shall be entitled to 50% of their Duty Tour
Allowance.
130114 – (a) Books/Project Allowances for officers attending various courses at the Federal Training
Centers, Treasury Schools, Universities and other approved Institutions in Nigeria shall be paid at the
rates specified in the extant circular.
(b) The Project Allowance payable for the duration of the course shall be at the rates specified in the
extant circular.
(c) For Postgraduate Courses, project allowance is payable once and for all, only for students engaged
in project writing.
130115 – The approved rates of responsibility allowance are as follows:
(a) Chief Confidential Secretaries attached to the President,
the Vice-President, the Senate President, the Speaker of House of Representatives, the Chief Justice of
Nigeria, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, The Head of Civil
Service of the Federation, and the Honourable Ministers at the rates specified in the extant circular.
(b) Assistant Chief Confidential Secretaries attached to the
Permanent Secretary/Chief Executive of Extra-Ministerial Office and the Directors at the rates specified
in the extant circular.
(c) Confidential Secretaries and Typists attached to these
functionaries at the rates specified in the extant circular.
130116 – Overtime is the additional time spent outside the approved time of work.
130117 – Overtime Allowance shall be paid to officers on GL.14 and below.
130118 – Overtime shall only be authorized and approved by the Accounting Officer/Chief Executive of
the Ministry/Extra-Ministerial Office on the recommendation of the Director.
130119 – For the purpose of computing overtime, the normal approved working time per week shall be
from 8.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. from Monday to Friday. This excludes Saturdays, Sundays and public
holidays.
130120 – Payment of Overtime shall be made for time worked in excess of the normal working hours
130121 – The circumstances in which officers can work overtime are as follows:
(a) Officers attached to Top Management/Officials;
(b) On special assignments, e.g. Conferences, Committees, etc.
(c) Period of budgetary preparations.
(d) Period of closing of annual accounts
(e) Any other assignment as may be approved by the Director and above.
130122 – No officer qualified for overtime payments shall work overtime in excess of 45 hours in any
month unless authorized in special circumstances by the Accounting Officer/Chief Executive.
130123 – Payment for overtime on normal working days will be at the rate of 0.7% of the monthly
consolidated salary subject to a maximum of 45 hours in one month and must be approved by the
Accounting Officer/Chief Executive.
130124 – A “work-free day” means the working day on which public holiday falls.
130125 – Time worked on work-free day will be paid at the rate of 11/2 of the normal Overtime rate;
while on Public holidays, the rate shall be doubled the normal Overtime rate but must be approved by
the Accounting Officer/Chief Executive.
130126 – When an officer eligible for overtime payment is duly authorized as acting in a post which
attracts overtime payment, he/she will be paid for overtime on his/her full acting emolument.
130127 – Uniform allowance at the rates specified in the extant circular is payable to senior officers in
the following category:
(a) Nursing and Midwifery Officers
(b) Fire Officers
130128 – An officer duly authorized to act is eligible for acting allowance at the appropriate rate
specified in rule 130129 and 130130 whichever is applicable from the gazetted date of commencement
of his/her acting appointment to the date immediately preceding the gazetted date of termination
thereof (both dates inclusive) except for any days in excess of 14 days of continuous absence from duty
on account of ill health. No allowances shall be paid if the period of acting appointment does not extend
beyond one month.
130129 – When an officer has been recommended to act in a grade immediately higher than his/her
own, he/she will be regarded as adequately performing the full duties of the higher post and shall be
entitled to 100 per cent rate of acting allowance.
130130 – If an officer is in receipt of a personal allowance in addition to the normal emoluments of
his/her substantive office, such personal allowance will be treated as part of his/her substantive basic
emolument for the purpose of calculating acting allowance.
130131 – The substantive emolument of a contract officer or re-engaged pensioner will, for the
purpose of calculating allowance in accordance with Rule 020411 be taken as the officer’s actual
emolument, less contract addition.
130132 – Resettlement allowance is granted in compensation for out of pocket expenses not covered by
other regulations but which are incurred by the officers in the course of transfer as defined in Rule
130134.
130133 – For the purpose of this Chapter “transfer” includes the following:
(i) transfer from one station to another during a tour of service;
(ii) transfer from one station to another on return from leave;
(iii) transfer or secondment from the service of another Government in the Federation;
130134 – Resettlement Allowance shall be paid at the rate of 2% of an Officer’s annual emolument.
130135 – An officer whose transfer is at his own request shall be entitled to only transport allowance
and not resettlement allowance.
130136 – Part-Time Teaching Allowances shall be paid to teachers who teach on part-time basis at the
rates specified in the extant circular.
130137 – Officers in the Professional, Administrative, Executive, Technological and allied cadres who,
not being teachers, are deployed to full time-teaching in departments/training institutions and other
scheduled organization shall be paid an allowance as may be specified in the extant circular per annum,
during the period of such posting.
130138 – A House Master/Mistress shall be eligible for a House Master/Mistress allowance at the rates
specified in the extant circular.
130139 – Science/Mathematics Teachers are eligible for Science/Mathematics Teaching Allowance at
the rates specified in the extant circular.
130140 – Laboratory Attendants who in addition to their normal duties, are required to work with their
evening class section of the Institution, shall be paid an allowance, per day, at a rate specified in the
extant circular.
130141- Officers who perform shift duties and are not Health professionals shall be paid shift duty
allowance at the rate of 6.0% of their monthly consolidated salaries.
CHAPTER 14
INVENTIONS
140101 – There shall be constituted for the purposes of the Rules in this chapter an Awards Committee
which shall consist of a Judicial or Legal Officer appointed by the Head of Government as Chairman and
such other persons as the Head of Government may from time to time appoint by notice in the gazette.
140102 – The functions of the Awards Committee shall be to make investigations and recommendations
in connection with Rules 140108 and 140109.
140103 – The Award Committee may make rules for regulating their proceedings, but no such rules shall
come into force until they shall have been approved by the Head of Government. An officer shall be
entitled to appear personally before the Awards Committee or be represented in such manner as the
Awards Committee may approve. All conclusions of the Awards Committee shall be embodied in
recommendations which shall be forwarded to the Head of Government.
140104 – An officer who has made an invention must immediately report it under Secrete Cover to
Government through his Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra-Ministerial Office. He may, at his own
expense, and shall, at the expense of Government if so required, lodge an application for provisional
protection with the Registrar of Patents and Designs. When so lodging any such application, the officer
shall simultaneously send a copy thereof to the Head of Government through his Permanent
Secretary/Head of Extra-Ministerial Office. The Head of Government shall decide as expeditiously as
possible whether the invention shall be regarded as secret, and his decision shall be forthwith
communicated to the officer’s Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra-Ministerial Office for the information
of the officer.
140105 – As soon as practicable the Head of Government shall decide whether the officer shall or shall
not be allowed controlling rights in the patent and his decision shall be communicated to the officer’s
Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra-Ministerial Office for the information of the officer. Where an
invention is in all respects alien to the employment of the officer, he shall normally be granted the full
rights in such invention. Pending the decision of the Head of Government as to the controlling rights, all
rights in the invention shall be deemed to belong to and be held in trust for the Government.
140106 – If the Head of Government decides that the officer shall be allowed controlling rights in the
patent, the following provisions shall apply.
(a) the officer shall, be responsible for all expenditure in
taking out the patent;
(b) the Head of Government may attach to his decision
such conditions as he may deem fit; in particular he may reserve to Government a right of user of the
invention free of royalty and/or may reserve to the Government a right to share of any commercial
proceeds;
(c) the officer may, whether any rights are reserved under
sub-paragraph (b) or not, apply to the Awards Committee, through his Permanent Secretary/Head of
Extra Ministerial Office for an award in respect of his invention.
140107 – If the Head of Government decides that the Officer shall not be allowed controlling rights in
the patents, the following provisions shall apply:
(a) the officer shall assign all his rights in the invention to
Government;
(b) the Government shall be responsible for all expenditure
in taking out the patent;
(c) the Head of Government shall decide whether the
officer shall or shall not be allowed a share of any commercial proceeds;
(d) the officer may, whether he is allowed a share in the
commercial proceeds or not, apply to the Awards Committee through his Permanent Secretary/Head of
Extra-Ministerial Office for an award in respect of his invention.
140108 – The question whether an award shall be made, the amount thereof, and the amount of the
share of commercial proceeds to be reserved to the Government under Rule 140106 (b) or allowed to
the officer under Rule 140107 (c), shall be determined by the Head of Government after investigation by
the Awards Committee. In fixing the amount of any award or share of commercial proceeds:
(a) any reasonable expenses to which the officer may
have been put in connection with his invention shall be taken into account;
(b) the reservation of a right of user free of royalty to the
Federal Government shall not be taken into account, but if and when such right shall be exercised by the
Government, a material change shall, for the purpose of Rule 140109 be deemed to have taken place.
140109 – In the event of a material change taking place in the circumstances which existed at the time
when an award or allocation of commercial proceeds was made, the original decision may be modified
by the Head of Government after further investigation by the Awards Committee; provided that, in any
such modification of the original decision, the amount of an award which as been paid shall not be
reduced. Where the Inventor considers an award by the Head of Government unacceptable, he may
apply to the Court to determine whether or not such an award is a fair remuneration under the Patents
and Designs Act (Cap.344)
140110 – Nothing in this Chapter shall affect the duties and liabilities of any officer under the provisions
of the Official Secrets Act, (Cap 335).
CHAPTER 15
REWARD FOR OUTSTANDING WORK
150101 – Reward in this section refers to Ministerial award of gifts or certificates to deserving officers.
150102 – The recipient of an award must have been considered as the best on the basis of outstanding
performance of duties and exemplary conduct during the year.
150103 – Each Ministry or Extra-Ministerial Department may make such award to deserving officers
annually.
150104 – The award may be in the form of certificates, medals, gifts of cash or kind.
150105 - The Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra-Ministerial Office shall be assisted by a committee in
selecting deserving officers from nominations made by Heads of Departments/Divisions.
150106 – Any officer who, in the course of his official duties carries out a unique act or, in perilous
circumstances, secures the safety of human life or property may also be considered for an award as the
occasion warrants
150107 – An officer who has served continuously for a minimum of 15, 25, 35, years with good record of
service shall be eligible for a certificate of merit and award in kind commensurate with his length of
service.
CHAPTER 16
APPLICATION OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE RULES TO FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PARASTATALS
SECTION 1 – GENERAL
SECTION 2 – APPOINTMENT AND PROMOTION
SECTION 3 – LEAVING THE SERVICE
SECTION 4 – DISCIPLINE
SECTION 5 – PETITIONS AND APPEALS
SECTION 1 – GENERAL
160101 – A parastatal is a government-owned organization established by statute to render specified
service(s) to the public. It is structured and operates according to the instrument establishing it and also
comes under the policy directives of Government
160102 – Parastatals shall be Classified into Four (4) categories
(i) Regulatory Agencies;
(ii) General Service;
(iii) Infrastructure/Utility Agencies
(iv) Security Agencies.
160103 – Parastatals are to retain and improve existing rules, procedures and practices
in their establishments and ensure that there are no deviations from the general principles contained in
the Public Service Rules. For example variations in probationary periods and maturity periods for
promotion only reflect organizational peculiarities and not inconsistencies with the Public Service Rules.
However in the absence of internal rules and regulations on any matter, the relevant provisions of the
Public Service Rules shall apply.
SECTION 2 – BOARDS/COUNCIL MATTERS
160201 – (a) Statutory Boards/Councils shall set operational and administrative policies in accordance
with government policy directives and supervises the implementation of such policies. The
administrative policies may include those relating to appointment, promotion and discipline of staff.
(b) A Board shall not be involved directly in the day-to-day management of a Parastatal.
(c) A Minister exercise control of Parastatals at policy level through the Broad of the Parastatal only.
160202 – Accommodation shall not be provided to any Part-Time Member of a Board on a permanent
basis. No part time Member of the Board shall be allowed to retain official vehicle for the use on a
permanent basis.
SECTION 3 – APPOINTMENTS AND PROMOTIONS
160301 – All appointments to public offices, both senior and junior, in Federal
Government Parastatals shall be made on the authority of the Boards/Councils within the approved
manning levels.
160302 – Appointment into all grades in Parastatals shall be need - based and subject to the approval of
the supervisory Boards/Councils. Such appointments shall be made through a fair and open selection
process that ensures merit, credibility and equal employment opportunity for all with due regard to the
Federal Character principle. Eligibility for appointment under this rule shall be in accordance with the
provisions of Public Service Rule 020205, subject to the fact that reference made in Rule 020205 to the
Head of the Civil Service of the Federation shall not apply to Parastatals.
160303 – The Board/Council of a Parastatal shall approve all promotions without prejudice to its powers
to delegate.
160304 – The provisions of PSR 020701 (b) and (c) on eligibility for promotion shall apply to
all Parastatals, without prejudice to a Parastatal’s conditions of service.
SECTION 4 – LEAVING THE SERVICE
160401 – (a) The provisions of Section 8 in Chapter 2 of the Public Service Rules on leaving the service
shall apply to all Parastatals, as contained in each Parastatal’s conditions of service.
(b) All such Conditions of Service for Parastatals shall be approved by their respective Boards and
ratified by the Head of Civil Service of the Federation.
SECTION 5 – DISCIPLINE
160501 – The power to exercise disciplinary control over officers in Parastatal is vested in the
supervisory Boards/Councils in accordance with their respective conditions of service.
160502 – The provisions of Sections 2 to 6 in Chapter 3 of the Public Service Rules shall guide
all Parastatals in addressing disciplinary matters provided that where reference to the Federal Civil
Service Commission, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation or the Permanent Secretary, the
Board/Councils shall perform such functions.
160503 - In the case of paramilitary services, the disciplinary procedures adopted in their respective
services shall also apply.
SECTION 6 – PETITIONS AND APPEALS
160601 – In consonance with Chapter 9 Section 2 of the Public Service Rules an officer of
a Parastatal who wishes to make a representation to the Head of Government shall route such
representation through the proper Departmental channels, namely: the petitioner’s superior Officer; the
Chief Executive Officer; the Board/Council and the supervising Ministry of the organization.
GENERAL
APPENDIX A
SCHEDULE OF REPLACEMENT SHEETS
Note: The sheets which are replaced should be reinserted behind this schedule.
Serial No. Rules replaced
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GENERAL
APPENDIX ‘B’
SCHEDULE OF MINOR AMENDMENTS
Note: The actual amendment slips should be pasted over the blank pages behind this schedule in serial
order.
Serial No. of
Amendment Gazette reference Rules affected
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GENERAL
APPENDIX ‘C’
NIGERIAN FOREIGN SERVICE REGULATIONS
CONTENTS
Regulation Subject
1. General-Application; Structure of the Foreign Service; Service Abroad; Appointment.
2. Rank and Salary Grade Levels
3. Training and Promotion
4. Appointments of Principal Representatives of Nigeria Abroad
5. Discipline
6. Marriage
7. Acceptance of Foreign Decorations
8. Presentations and Gifts
9. Foreign Service Allowance
10. Clothing Allowance
11. Resettlement Allowance
12. Free Passage for non-Domicile children
13. Housing Allowance
14. Travel
15. Short Missions Abroad
16. Medical Attention
17. Domestic Servants and Staff
18. Foreign Languages
19. Leave
20. Locally Engaged Staff
21. Transport
22. Death
23. Spouses at Post
24. Children’s Education Supplement
25. Adoption of Children
26. Posting
27. Compensation for Losses
28. Retirement from Service
29. Operational Hand Book
30 Definitions
1. In these regulations, the following terms shall have the following meanings;
Minister: Means the Minister of Foreign Affairs;
The Permanent Secretary: Means the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Ministry: Means the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Head of Mission: Means the most senior officer or the officer acting in place of the senior officer at a
diplomatic post abroad. For avoidance of doubt, an officer at the Head of Consular Post in a country
where there is a substantive Head of Mission is not, by this definition, Head of Mission.
Definitions of other words or phrases authorized by the Public Service Rules apply also to Foreign
Service Regulations.
Regulation No. 1. – General
1. The Foreign Service is established as a separate Service of the Nigerian Government with the
purpose of providing staff for the Ministry Of Foreign Affairs at Headquarters and in Nigerian diplomatic,
Consular and other posts abroad. The conditions of service of officers required to serve outside Nigeria
differ in some respect from those of the remainder of the Public Service and separate Foreign Service
Regulations have therefore been authorized.
2. Rules of the Public Service of Nigeria apply to members of the Foreign Service in respects of matters
not specifically covered by Foreign Service Regulations. However, the Foreign Service Regulations will
supersede the Public Service Rules where the two are in conflict.
3. The Foreign Service is composed of the following branches:
Branch A: Appointed for Diplomatic and representational duties
Branch B: Appointed for non-Diplomatic duties
4. All officers appointed to the Foreign Service in whatever Branch or grade, are eligible for service
abroad. However, postings abroad shall take due cognizance of the relative aptitude, training experience
of officers and the interest of the service.
5. Appointment to the Foreign Service is by the Federal Public Service Commission except the
appointment of Principal Representatives of Nigeria. However, as a result of the uniqueness of the
Foreign Service, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall be involved in the appointment, promotion and
discipline of Foreign Service Officers. The Federal Civil Service Commission, in consultation with the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, shall work out modalities for the appointment, promotion and discipline of
Foreign Service Officers.
6. In view of the peculiar needs of the Foreign Service and in addition to the criteria used for
appointing officers in the other arms of the Public Service, appointment of Foreign Affairs Officers shall
be based on the possession of an Honours Degree in Acts, Social Sciences or in any other field or are of
human Endeavour as the need arises. Such degree shall not be below Second Class Honours (Lower
Division) from a recognized University.
7. All officers appointed directly to the Foreign Service shall be on probation for two years
8. In addition to meeting other conditions of appointment applicable to officers in the Public Service,
the confirmation of a Foreign Affairs officer shall be based on the successful completion with the
required grades of Foreign Service Academy Course, which the Officer must attend within two years of
his employment. Officers who, however, fail to pass the Foreign Service Academy Course after two (2)
attempts shall have their appointment terminated.
Regulation No. 2 – Ranks and Salary Grade Levels
1. The Ranks and Salary Grade Levels of Members of the Foreign Service (Foreign Affairs Officers’
Cadre) at Headquarters shall be as follows:-
Under Secretary
Director (FSO Special Grade ) - GL.17
Deputy Director (FSO Grade I) - GL.16
Assistant Director (FSO Grade II) - GL 15
Chief Foreign Affairs Officer (Minister Counsellor) - GL. 14
Asst. Chief Foreign Affairs Officer (Snr. Counsellor) - GL.13
Principal Foreign Affairs Officer (Counsellor) - GL.12
Senior Foreign Affairs Officer (First Secretary) - GL. 10
Foreign Affairs Officer Grade I (Second Secretary - GL.09
Foreign Affairs Officer Grade II (Third Secretary) - GL.08
2. Directors/Deputy Directors posted to Mission may be designated Deputy Heads of Mission.
However, where it becomes expedient to post two such senior officers to a Mission, the Deputy Director
would be designated a Minister.
3. Officers posted from Extra-Ministries posted to Nigerian Diplomatic Missions abroad, shall be
designated Attaches in charge of the responsibilities of their Ministries.
4. Officers posted from Extra-Ministerial Departments and Agencies, shall irrespective of their grade
level be given a field designation not above Minister-Counsellor in Grade A Missions; Counsellor in
Grade B Missions, and First Secretary in Grade C & D Missions. Such Officers however, shall be entitled
to Allowances and benefits appropriate to their Grades.
5. All officers in Branch B performing non-Diplomatic and non-representational duties shall bear the
functional designation of their grades as applicable to their cadres.
6. Conversion from other cadres into the Foreign Affairs Officer Cadre shall allowed only in exceptional
cases and confined to Officers who would have, while in service, obtained relevant University Degrees
not below Second Class Honours (Lower Division). Any qualification obtained not declared before an
appointment shall not be used for upgrading, promotion and conversion. In view of the uniqueness of
the Foreign Service, there shall be no transfer of lateral conversion above GL.10. Applicants seeking
conversion to Branch A, shall be required to attend and successfully complete the Foreign Service
Academy Course with the required grades as a precondition for conversion.
Regulation No.3 – Training and Promotion
1. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall maintain a Foreign Service Academy, which shall be Responsible
for the training of Foreign Service Officers at all levels, as well as other officers serving in other Branches
in the Ministry. All newly appointed Foreign Service Officers shall attend one (1) year formal training in
diplomatic practice at the Foreign Service Academy.
2. (a) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall organize appropriate training programmes for all cadres of
officers in the Foreign Service and officers shall be obliged to attend when nominated.
(b) For the purposes of training, officers shall be categorized
into three, namely:
(i) New Entrants
(ii) Mid-Career Officers
(iii) Senior Management.
(c) The Ministry shall also make use of the management
training programmes organized by the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON) and/or Other
managements training Programmes or institutions
(d) There shall be a Departmental Training Committee to
identify the Training needs of the Ministry as a whole, evaluate training programmes and make
recommendations for improvement.
(e) Language, Computer and Consular Matters shall be
included in the curriculum of training for new intakes, as well as, Mid-Career and Senior Management
Cadres, in the Foreign Service.
(f) Training of Mid Career and Senior Management cadres
shall be structured to facilitate achieving a fair level of specialization for Officers in diverse areas, such as
Oil and Gas; Energy issues; Environmental issues; Conflict Management and Resolution; Human Rights;
International Finance and Trade Matters; Disarmament and Strategic Studies; and Foreign
Administration and policy Planning.
(g) The Ministry shall, as part of its training for senior
management cadre make use of the programmes organized by the National Institute for Policy and
Strategic Studies) (NIPSS); the National Defence College (NDC) and the Institute for Peace and Conflict
Resolution; new and emerging concepts/issues in International Relations e.g. Globalization, HIV/Aids,
Women – Gender issues, ICT, Bio-Tech, Debt.
(h) Language refresher courses shall also be organized by the language school for officers who have
acquired additional international languages.
3. (a) The consideration governing all promotions shall be in accordance with the guidelines set out by
the Federal Civil Service Commission.
(b) The Ministry shall, in consultation with the Federal Civil Service Commission, evolve definite
criteria, which all officers must meet before being recommended for promotion from one rank to the
other.
(c) Proficiency in any one of the approved UN working
languages is a requirement for career progression beyond the position of First Secretary.
4. Officers who are dissatisfied with the out-come of a promotion exercise shall have a right of appeal
to the Federal Civil Service Commission, through the appropriate channel and in accordance with the
provisions of Chapter 9 of the Public Service Rules on Petition and Appeals.
Regulation No.4 – Appointment
1. (a) The power to appoint Ambassadors, High Commissioners, Heads of Mission, who shall be
Principal Representatives of Nigeria abroad on a substantive or temporary basis is vested in the
President on the advice of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
(b) In the appointment of Principal Representatives of Nigeria abroad priority consideration shall be
given to career diplomats rather than non-career diplomats. The appointment of non-career
Ambassadors whose number may not exceed twenty-five per cent (25%) of the total number of
Ambassadors shall be at the pleasure of the President and shall cease when the President ceases to hold
office.
(c) An officer sent to a post as Charge d’ Affaires shall be
entitled to an acting allowance of Head of Mission.
(d) An officer designated “Deputy Head of Mission” shall
take charge when the Head of Mission is outside the country of his accreditation.
(e) No acting allowance shall be payable where an officer is temporarily in charge of a Mission under
the control of a non-resident Ambassador who is concurrently accredited to the country but is normally
resident elsewhere.
(f) In cases where an Ambassador is recalled or withdrawn
for whatever reason from his post, the most senior Foreign Service Officer shall take charge of the
Mission. Such an officer shall be entitled to acting allowance of one grade above his substantive level.
Regulation No.5 – Discipline
1. As soon as it has become known that a member of the Foreign Service is bankrupt, insolvent or
financially embarrassed in accordance with the provision of Public Service Rule 030414, the fact must be
reported to the Permanent Secretary. If the office is serving abroad, the Report should be forwarded
through the Head of Mission in which he is serving. Appropriate disciplinary proceedings shall be
instituted against the officer
2. Recall from the post before the end of an officer’s duty tour would apply only in cases where it has
been duly established after proper inquiry that the continued presence of an officer at Post is inimical to
the interest of the service. Thereafter the appropriate disciplinary action shall be taken against the
officer.
3. Officers, who are dissatisfied with the outcome of a disciplinary action, shall have a right of appeal
to the Federal Civil Service Commission, through the appropriate channel and in accordance with the
provisions of Chapter 9 of the Public Service Rules.
Regulation No.6 Marriage
1. All married officers in the Foreign Service shall notify the Ministry of such marriages for the purpose
of registration and shall also be required to give full particulars of the spouse.
2. (a) Any officer of the Foreign Service who proposes to marry a foreigner shall first seek the prior
permission of the Permanent Secretary before proceeding with the marriage.
(b) Where the effect of an officer’s marriage would diminish
substantially his or her usefulness as a Nigerian representative abroad, as by limiting the number of
posts at which he or she could be deployed or where such a marriage would otherwise affect his or her
usefulness as a member of the Foreign Service, he or she shall be required to leave the Foreign Service
or return to the Home Service.
(c) Married female officer shall enjoy the same facilities in
respect of their spouses and children as their male counterparts provided there would be no duplication
of benefits to spouses; for example -
(i) Diplomatic Passport for spouses to Branch A officers to
facilitate the issuance of visa and allow effective representational functions abroad;
(ii) Official Passports for spouses of Branch B officers;
(iii) Opportunity for spouses to accompany their partners
on posting at Government expense;
(iv) Resettlement and Clothing Allowance and medical
attention for spouses;
(v) Female officers shall enjoy children’s benefits when they
are divorced and have custody of the children or when widowed.
(vi) A child of an officer must be registered with the Ministry
within three months of birth, and in case of newly appointed officers within three months of entry into
service. In the case of an adopted child the registration shall only be taken on the presentation of all the
legal papers, including Court Order.
Regulation No. 7 – Acceptance of Foreign Decorations
1. A member of the Foreign Service will not normally be granted permission to accept or wear foreign
decorations or medals. The same rule shall apply to their spouses. Should an officer become aware that
the bestowal of a foreign decoration is contemplated, he should take steps to explain the need to obtain
the prior permission of the Nigerian Government through diplomatic channels before the decision to
confer is taken.
Regulation No. 8 – Presentations and Gifts
1. No member of the Foreign Service or his family may accept gifts or presentations, whether in form
of money or otherwise, from any person in recognition or anticipation of service rendered or to be
rendered by virtue of his official position, nor in any case from a foreign resident in the country in which
that member is serving. These rules should not be regarded as applying to small personal gifts such as
may be exchanged between colleagues and friends.
2. If an officer is in doubt as to the property of receiving or retaining a gift, he should consult his Head
of Mission or the Permanent Secretary as the case may be.
Regulation No. 9 - Foreign Service Allowance
1. A Foreign Service Officer serving abroad is eligible to receive appropriate Foreign Service Allowance.
This allowance is paid to enable an officer generally to maintain himself and his family, in conditions and
at a standard in which he will most usefully and conveniently be able to carry out his duties as a
representative of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in another country.
2. The rate of the allowance payable to each officer varies according to the officer’s rank and the
overseas post in which he is serving. The following factors, inter-alia, are taken into account in assessing
the annual rate of Foreign Service Allowance to be paid to each officer:
(a) Local cost of living;
(b) Expenditure which an officer serving abroad necessarily
incurs over and above that incurred by an officer of same rank serving in Nigeria;
(c) Expenditure which, while optional for a private
individual, is obligatory for an officer by virtue of his official status;
(d) The state of the Nigerian economy.
3. The Foreign Service Allowance is also designed to assist an officer going abroad in providing
hospitality. In additional to the normal Foreign Service Allowance, Government has approved the
payment of accountable hospitality allowance to officers at post (i.e. Foreign Affairs Officers below the
rank of Ambassador).
Accountable hospitality allowance is payable retrospectively, normally on monthly basis on claims which
must be supported with guest list and other documents (i.e. receipts or bills) which the Head of Mission
may require. It is emphasized that the accountable hospitality allowance provided for each officer is the
maximum amount of hospitality assistance he can expect from public funds. The prior approval of Head
of Mission or any other very senior officer designated for this purpose in the particular Mission must be
obtained before such expenditures are incurred.
4. Children’s Foreign Service Allowance has been integrated into the Consolidated Foreign Service
Allowance.
5. (a) An officer will draw Foreign Service Allowance (FSA) from the day on which he assumes duty at
an overseas post. He will cease to draw Foreign Service Allowance on the day he leaves his overseas
post. An officer on home leave paid for by Government will receive 25 per cent of the overseas
allowance in consideration of his continuing expenses.
(b) At all times, there shall be the protection of the Foreign
Service Allowance against erosion caused by currency fluctuations, to minimize inflationary impact on
purchasing power of officers. There shall also be an in-built mechanism for a periodic review of the
Foreign Service Allowance as may be recommended by the Minister, Foreign Affairs and approved by
the President.
(c) Foreign Service Allowance shall be based on salary
grade level.
6. All married officers will receive Foreign Service Allowance at rates as provided in the Consolidated
Foreign Service Allowance. However, the payment of such allowance shall be limited to actual period
spent at post by spouses on monthly pro-rata basis.
7. Passage privilege is to be extended to wives/husbands to visit their spouses at post at Government
expense once a year.
Regulation No.10 – Clothing Allowance
1. Clothing Allowance has been integrated into the Consolidated Staff Foreign Service Allowance.
On first appointment as Ambassador or High Commissioner, an officer shall be eligible for this special
clothing allowance of $3,000.00
2. Where clothing allowance falls due while an officer is at Headquarters, he will be entitled to 50% of
the approved rate in Naira.
Regulation No.11 – Resettlement Allowance
1. Resettlement Allowance is payable in the following circumstances and at the following rates:
(a) On transfer from one post abroad to another or from
Nigeria to a post abroad:
Married officers – 4 per cent of Consolidated Salary.
Single officers – 3 per cent of Consolidated Salary.
(b) On transfer from a post abroad to Nigeria provided
that the officer has served abroad for at least two years or has returned earlier to Nigeria by the orders
of the Government:
Married officers – 6 per cent of Consolidated Salary.
Single officers – 4 per cent of Consolidated Salary.
(c) A married officer who is separated from his spouse or
whose spouse and family do not accompany him abroad shall draw the allowance at a single rate,
provided that an officer may receive the difference when he/she is joined by his spouse or family at post
(d) When an officer during an interval between two postings
abroad takes up temporary duty in Nigeria or spends his vacation leave in Nigeria knowing that he is
shortly to proceed to another post, he is not eligible to receive two grants of resettlement
allowance. He will received only the grant for which he/she is eligible on arrival at the new post.
(e) When an officer is promoted at the same time as he is
transferred, the grant of resettlement allowance shall be calculated on his salary after promotion.
Regulation No.12 – Free Passage for Non-Domicile Children
1. Passage privileges shall be granted to children to visit their parents once in a year at government
expense even where the parents are receiving children’s Foreign Service Allowance in their respect. This
is subject to condition stipulated in Regulation No. 147(a-c). In addition, returns of all such passages,
authenticated by Heads of Mission, shall be rendered yearly by Finance Attaches.
Regulation No.13 – Housing Allowance
1. A member of the Foreign Service abroad, shall be provided with accommodation rented; or owned
by the Nigerian Government. When accommodation rented or owned by the Nigerian Government is
available and suitable, an officer shall be required to occupy it. Where an officer is unable to move into a
suitable accommodation immediately on arrival at post, he may draw for a period not normally
exceeding 28 days estacode allowance at the appropriate rates.
2. The conditions for payment of Housing allowance are:
(a) When due to circumstances beyond his/her control,
an officer cannot be provided with official quarters after 28 days at post, he will cease to draw the
allowance and government will settle the cost of reasonable hotel accommodation, less food, alcoholic
drinks and incidental expenses.
(b) When an officer returns to Headquarters from
posting abroad, Government will meet the normal Hotel expenses of himself, spouse and up to four
children for a maximum of one month, less alcoholic, beverages, telephone and incidentals
(c) Cash payment in lieu of hotel accommodation at
Headquarters may be made to officers returning from overseas posting, who elect for such payment at
approved rates.
3. An officer occupying accommodation, rented or owned by Nigerian Government is responsible for
the proper care of its contents. He shall be personally charged with the cost of making good any damage
to the furniture, fittings or decorations which is not attributed to fair wear and tear. Heads of Mission
are required to cause such quarters to be inspected whenever they are vacated and to issue a certificate
to the effect that the quarters and furnishings are in a reasonable state of repair.
4. An officer is not permitted, except for a short period and in special circumstances with the
permission of his Head of Mission, to provide accommodation at his post abroad to persons other than
his spouse, children and servants.
5. If an officer, not on his own initiative but due to compelling circumstances, has to change
accommodation, the Government shall bear the reasonable cost of moving his effects to his new
address and if the Head of Mission is satisfied that payment of rent at both places at the same time is
unavoidable he may authorize payment of rent on both the old and new accommodation for a period of
not more than one week.
6. (a) Bills in respect of electricity and gas shall be settled from public funds except that officers on
GL.07 – 13 will be required to contribute 50 percent, while officers on GL.14 and above will be required
to contribute 65 percent.
(b) Officers serving in designated hardship post shall be
required to contribute 20 percent towards the settlement of utility bills incurred by them.
(c) Utilities in respect of Heads of Mission and Deputy Heads
of Mission shall be settled from public funds.
Regulation No.14 – Travels
1. Whenever an officer makes an official journey within the country in which he is serving, he will be
eligible for:
(a) Free passage by air, rail or road to the place visited.
(b) Free transport in the place visited in accordance with
the local regulations applicable to officers of the same status.
(c) Reimbursement of actual expenditure on transport
necessarily hired in connection with the business of the visit.
(d) Estacode allowance at rates laid down in the appropriate
Government Regulations.
2. Officers accompanying official delegates abroad or on official visits to countries outside those in
which they are serving are eligible for passages, transport and estacode allowance in accordance with
the appropriate Government Regulations.
3. An officer proceeding or returning from an overseas posting, or on transfer between one overseas
post and another is eligible for Sea or air passages as laid down in the Public Service Rules or extant
Circulars for self, wife and four children between Nigerian and the overseas post or one post and
another. In addition, a Head of Diplomatic Mission is allowed free passages for two servants; while
Foreign Affairs Officers of the rank of Chief Foreign Affairs Officers, GL. 14 and above are allowed free
passages for one servant each at public expense.
4. Officers travelling by sea shall be entitled as follows
(a) Officers on SGL.12 and below – 20 foot container;
(b) Officers on GL. 13 and above shall be entitled to a
maximum of 40 foot container.
5. Officer travelling by air, with his heavy baggage forwarded by sea, will be entitled as follows:
(a) Officers on salary grade level 12 and below – maximum of 20 foot container;
(b) Officers on GL.13 and above shall be entitled to a
maximum of 40 foot container plus shipment of personal car at government expense;
(c) Where the Head of Mission is satisfied that the air
freighting of an officer’s personal effect would be cheaper than ocean shipment, he can authorise the air
freighting of the officer’s personal effects upon application by the officer, subject to a maximum of
3,000kg (married) or 2,500kg (single) for officers on GL.14 and above; 2,500kg (married) or 2,000kg
(single) for officers on GL.12 and 13; and 1,759kg, (married) 1,200kg (single) for officers on GL.10 and
below, but no insurance or customs duty.
(d) Clearing charges at the port of arrival will be borne by
the Government, but no insurance or custom duty.
6. (a) The provisions of Chapter 8 of the Public Service Rules shall apply to officers and their families
travelling on duty. The reasonable cost of insuring the baggage, personal effects and car of an officer
and his family travelling between Nigeria and an overseas post or between one overseas post and
another on first appointment, or on posting, will be borne by Government but not when an officer or his
family are proceeding on or returning from leave.
(b) Government will bear a reasonable cost of professional packing of officer’s effects.
(c) Other Foreign Service Officers of the rank of Chief Foreign Service Officer GL.14 and above are
allowed free passages for one servant each at public expense.
7. A Foreign Service Officer sent on posting is normally entitled to one return passage for himself
during a tour of duty. In addition, he/she is entitled to a return passage for spouse and up to four
children between Nigeria and the overseas post once during a tour of duty abroad. When an officer is
not accompanied by any member of his/her family entitled to such a passage, the member of the family
may utilize the passage grant for the purpose of visiting the officer at his/her overseas post not more
than once during the tour of duty abroad subject to the following conditions:
(a) All passages from Nigeria must be booked by authorized
Government official. In all other countries, such passages must be booked by agents approved by the
Head of Mission.
(b) Only the actual cost of the passages utilized (less rebates, if any) will be refunded for travel from
other countries.
(c) Cash savings resulting from any rebates will not be granted to the officer.
(d) Any of the passages granted for children under Regulation 14 (3)
shall be deducted from the entitlement to four passages if they are used during the same calendar year.
(e) The entitlement may not be used for more than one return passage for the same child in the
same duty tour.
8. The class of travel and the rates for allowance authorized in this regulation may be varied where the
conditions of living in a particular country justify such a variation.
Regulation No.15 – Short Mission Abroad
1. Officials travelling abroad from Nigeria on short missions will normally be entitled to receive only
the appropriate estacode allowances. There will be occasions, however, when some increase may be
authorized as, for example, when owing to the status of one member it is necessary for a whole
delegation to stay at an hotel where the accommodation is unusually expensive.
2. When it seems likely that a delegation or any individual officer going abroad will have to incur
expenditure on entertainment, a special allocation will be authorized for that purpose.
3. The precise financial arrangements for each Mission or delegation will, before departure, be settled
in consultation with the Ministry of Finance.
Regulation No.16 – Medical Attention
1. A member of the Foreign Service shall be entitled to receive the same medical treatment when
serving at a post abroad. The spouse, children and Nigerian domestic servants who have accompanied
him/her abroad at public expense will receive the same benefits.
2. At each post abroad a medical practitioner and a dentist will be appointed by the Head of Mission
after due consultation with the Home based staff and members of staff must consult them when
necessary. Each Head of Mission will explore the possibility of making single comprehensive payment for
all medical attention to staff and where the cost of medical attention is exceptionally high, some form of
group insurance scheme may be advantageous.
3. The requirements of public Service Rules Chapter 7 governing medical treatment overseas are
inapplicable to an officer serving abroad and it is authorized that provided a panel comprising not less
than two medical specialists appointed by the Head of Mission (or one medical specialist in situations
where the services of two cannot be immediately obtained) certify that a Nigerian officer urgently needs
a specialist attention outside that country, government will bear the expenses. An officer who has
satisfied the conditions to receive specialist medical treatment outside his post shall be entitled to
payment of 50% estacode allowance up to a maximum of 7 days.
Regulation No.17 – Domestic Servants and Staff
1. Passage privileges are granted to enable all senior officers in the Foreign Service to take children’s
nurses or domestic servants from Nigeria to posts abroad (FSR. 14 (3 b, c). On security grounds, there
may be objection to the employment of certain types of aliens as domestic servants in the households of
officers serving abroad. An officer should, therefore, consult the Head of his Mission before employing
any alien. It would be regarded as serious misconduct for an officer to abuse the passage privilege
granted him for a servant by utilizing it for the journey abroad of a person who was not in fact to be full-
time domestic servant in his household.
2. (a) The Head of Mission shall be entitled to the following domestic staff:
(i) one cook and two stewards;
(ii) two security guards;
(iii) two drivers
(iv) two grounds men as and where appropriate to be
determinate by Permanent Security.
(b) Some members of the domestic staff of the Head of
Mission listed above will be employed from the two domestic servants who accompanied the Head of
Mission and whose passages were paid by the government.
(c) A Deputy Head of Mission shall be entitled to the following:
(i) One Cook and One Steward;
(ii) One Driver;
(iii) One grounds man.
(d) As in paragraph 2 (b) above, the domestic servants
who accompanied a Deputy Head of Mission at government expense could be employed as members of
his domestic staff listed above.
Regulation No.18 – Foreign Languages
1. All members of Branch “A” of the Foreign Service are expected whenever possible to learn the
language of the country in which the are serving and members of Branch “B” are also encouraged to do
so. Officers who attain proficiency in language at lower standard or higher standard shall qualify for a
one-off payment of 5 percent or 10 percent of Consolidated Foreign Service Allowance respectively.
2. The standards of examination which must be conducted by a recognized examining body are:
(a) Lower Standard: A competent knowledge for social
conversation, simple correspondence and other ordinary purposes.
(b) Higher Standard: Sufficient knowledge to act as
interpreter at informal ministerial discussions, and to take part in negotiations other those of technical
nature or when exact phraseology is of vital importance .
3. An officer may claim from the Government the cost of lessons in the language he is studying up to a
maximum of 120 lessons taken over a period of not more than 18 months. Before taking such lessons,
the officer must satisfy the Head of Mission that the cost is reasonable. Money paid for the lessons shall
be recovered from the officer in the event of failing the examination.
4. The ability to speak French fluently is a necessary Qualification for Nigerian diplomat in view of the
number of French-speaking States in Africa. All officers of Branch “A” are, therefore, required to pass at
least the lower standard Examination in French before the end of their probation or trial period. Also,
officers wishing to convert to Branch “A” cardre or transfer to the Branch “A” cadre of the Ministry are
expected to meet the above requirement.
Regulation No.19 – Leave
1. Annual leave for members of the Foreign Service in Nigeria will be at the rates laid down in the Public
Service Rules or extant Circulars. All officers are expected to take their vacation leave within the
calendar year in which such leave is due. Unless approval is given for the deferment of such leave, it will
be forfeited. Any leave approved for deferment shall be spent before the officer’s retirement otherwise
it will be forfeited.
Authorized deferred leave may be commuted to cash only where an officer has been made to retire
prematurely and cannot spend all his deferred leave before his retirement. No serving officer shall be
allowed to commute to cash at the time of retirement any deferred leave.
2. Annual leave for members of the Foreign Service in Nigeria will be by the permission of the
Permanent Secretary while annual leave spent elsewhere will be by the permission of the Head of the
Mission.
3. An officer serving in an overseas post may, subject to the exigencies of the service, be permitted
within any calendar year to spend up to half of his annual leave entitlement for that year overseas. In
that case, no travel time will be allowed in addition to any leave granted. Such leave shall be deducted
from his annual leave entitlement.
4. At the discretion of the Head of Mission, officers may be granted occasional permission to absent
themselves from duty for not more than 7 days in a leave year without loss of salary.
5. An application to spend his local leave outside the officer’s post shall be authorized by the Head of
Mission.
6. In accordance with the provisions of the Public Service Rules, leave on the grounds of urgent private
affairs will, on the authority of the Permanent Secretary, be granted to officers to return home for a
brief period. Where such leave has been necessitated by the serious illness or death of a close relative,
he will be granted free return passage to Nigeria at Public expense. For the purposes of this regulation, a
close relation means an officer’s parents, spouse, children or parents or spouse.
7. On grounds of public policy, the spouse of a Foreign Service Officer who is also a public officer, may
be granted leave without pay, to enable him/her join his/her spouse on posting abroad.
8. An officer serving abroad shall be entitled to 2 percent of his annual Foreign Service Allowance as
leave transport grant. Head of Mission must obtain the consent of the Permanent Secretary before
proceeding on overseas leave. Where an officer elects, to proceed on home leave paid for by
government, the officer shall be entitled to only 25 percent of his Foreign Service Allowance for the
duration of his leave period. Where an officer elects, on the other hand, to proceed on home leave at his
own expense, the officer shall be entitled to full Foreign Service Allowance for the duration of the leave
period.
Regulation No.20 – Locally Engaged Staff
1. Staff engaged locally at a post abroad are not members of the Foreign Service and their conditions
are regulated by their contracts of employment. They are not entitled to any of the privileges or
allowances payable under these regulations
2. Where social security scheme is available in the host country, Missions should participate in them
for the benefit of locally engaged staff.
3. Where such schemes are not available, a lump sum calculated in accordance with the provisions of
the Nigerian Pensions Act should be paid. On no account should the Mission involve itself in the
payment of pension.
Regulation No.21 – Transport
1. The Foreign Service Allowance of an officer serving abroad includes an element of transport
expenses equivalent to the rate of transport allowance, which the officer would normally have received
if he were serving in Nigeria. The officer would not, therefore, be entitled to transport allowance as long
as he receives his/her Foreign Service Allowance.
2. The Cost of transporting an officer’s car from one station to another during transfer or leave,
preparatory to transfer to another post will be at government expense.
3. Official transport will be provided for Heads of Mission and for their Deputies. In
large missions and where available, transport will also be provided to Ministers. Such transport is to be
used for official, ceremonial and representational purposes.
Regulation No. 22 – Death
1. The Government shall bear the full cost of the repatriation of the remains of a deceased officer, his
spouse or his dependants to the designated Nigerian home of the deceased. For the purpose of this rule,
a dependant means any member of the officer’s family including domestic personnel whose passage to
the post was paid by the Government.
2. The Government will also bear the cost of a return fare of the spouse to enable the spouse
accompany the body to Nigeria. Otherwise, Government will assist with the local burial up to an amount
not exceeding the cost of the transporting the body to Nigeria. The Government will however not be
responsible in this case for any funeral expense in Nigeria.
Regulation No. 23 – Spouses at Post
1. A spouse of an officer in the Nigerian Foreign Service is prohibited from taking up gainful
employment while at post with the officer.
2. Spouses of Foreign Service officers on leave of absence on grounds of Public Policy who fall within
the field of selection for an Interview/Promotion Examination shall be allowed to sit for the
interview/promotion examination while at post and, if successful, will be promoted to put him at par
with his/her colleagues
3. Where such a spouse has improved himself by acquiring additional qualification which will enhance
his usefulness to the services, he shall be considered for advancement in accordance with prevailing
regulations.
Regulation No 24 – Children’s Education Supplement
1. Children of officers at post shall enjoy free primary Education at Government expense.
2. The contribution of an officer to secondary education in respect of each child shall be 15% of the
cost (boarding and tuition inclusive).
3. An officer, serving in a country in which there are no suitable facilities for education through the
medium of English Language shall, with the approval of the Ministry, send his children to an English
speaking boarding institution at Government expense in countries approved within the region where
the Mission is located.
4. The approved countries for each Mission are as follows:
(i) WEST AFRICA
Nigeria, Ghana, Gambia, Benin
(ii) EAST, CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN AFRICA
Cameroon, Kenya, South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe
(iii) NORTH AFRICA
Officers serving in this region should send their children to International schools in their host
countries.
(iv) EUROPE
Ireland, United Kingdom
(v) ASIA
India, Philippines, Malaysia
(vi) LATIN AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
USA, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Canada
(vii) MIDDLE EAST
Turkey, Egypt.
5. The Head of Mission shall (in the case of 1 & 2), in the first instance, pay the fees directly on
production of the bills, and thereafter deduct its from the officer’s Foreign Service Allowance.
Regulation No. 25 – Adoption of Children
1. Any officer who wishes to adopt any child shall satisfy the following conditions:
(i) he must be childless;
(ii) he shall tender legally authenticated Agreement between him and
the biological/foster parents/legal guardians (in case the child is an orphan) authorizing him to adopt the
child;
(iii) he shall also tender legally and officially authenticated Agreement
between him/her and the relevant Social Welfare Agency authorizing the adoption of the child and
stating the circumstances compelling the adoption of the child;
(iv) before applying to the relevant authority for approval to adopt the
child, the Legal and Personnel Management Division of the Ministry shall scrutinize the applications to
ensure compliance with extant regulations.
(v) record of the adopted child shall be in the officer’s record of
service.
2. No officer shall be allowed to take an adopted child to post abroad at government expense, unless
there is proof that he/she has fulfilled all the legal processes regarding the adoption of the child
3. Government shall not recognise any adopted child for the purposes of posting abroad or for the
purposes of any entitlements such as passages, children foreign service allowance, medical care, school
fees, education supplement, etc. in respect of any officer who has claimed such entitlements for one or
more of his/her biological children.
Regulation No. 26 - Posting
1. Posting shall be carried out by a Posting Committee of the most Senior Officers at
Headquarters appointed by the Permanent Secretary. The Committee shall as far as possible reflect
Federal Character principle.
2. The period of a normal tour of duty abroad shall be 4 years but Government reserves the right to
recall the officer at any time.
3. Three months’ notice should be given to officer before they are posted abroad or back home to give
the officers enough time to wind up their affairs before proceeding on such posting.
4. General postings shall be timed to coincide with the school year to enable officers arrange the
school programme for their children. However, in the posting of staff to multilateral Missions, the
specific needs of each Mission should be taken into account. In the case of the Permanent Mission In
New York, movement to and from the Mission shall be between January and April after the General
Assembly sittings in December. Aside from this exception, all other postings to Missions abroad shall be
in August/September and for Ad-hoc postings in December/January.
5. In addition to other factors of eligibility for posting including duration of stay at Headquarters, the
geographical areas where an officer has served shall be taken into consideration during posting
exercises.
6. General Posting Exercise shall be carried out annually. Such staff movement shall be at levels that
will keep reasonable continuity in the operations of Missions.
Regulation No. 27 – Compensation for Losses
In the event of injury to persons, losses or damage to vehicles and personal effects of Foreign Service
Officers arising out of conflicts, riots, revolution or natural disasters, the Nigerian Government shall pay
appropriate compensation to the victims to minimize their hardship.
Regulation No. 28 – Retirement from Service
The compulsory retirement age for all grade in the Foreign Service shall be 60 years or 35 years of
pensionable service which ever is earlier. No officer shall be allowed to remain in the Foreign Service
after attaining the retirement age of 60 years or 35 years of pensionable service whichever is earlier.
Regulation No. 29 – Operational Hand Books
1. Every library of Nigerian diplomatic or consular post shall be stocked with reference and operational
hand books which are designed to serve as works of reference for effectiveness of the Missions. Where
they are not already available, urgent steps shall be taken to procure them through the Ministry.
Reference and operational hand books shall include:
(i) Laws of Nigeria and Treaties in force;
(ii) Government Gazettes;
(iii) Regulations on Conduct of Marriage;
(iv) Shipping Regulations;
(v) Quarantine Regulations;
(vi) Consular Protocols;
(vii) Adoption Regulations;
(viii) National Question (e.g. facts and figures of Nigerian life and institutions);
(ix) Customs and Excise Hand Books;
(x) Investment guidelines necessary for industrial promotion;
(xi) Protocol hand books or manuals to assist officers and their spouse (e.g. books on etiquette and
manners);
(xii) Civil Service Rules;
(xiii) Public Service Rules;
(xiv) Financial Regulations;
(xv) Other useful publications.
Chapter 2
APPENDIX I
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA Form No. FC. 3379
CONTRACT AGREEMENT FOR EXPATRIATE MEN/
WOMEN MARRIED TO NIGERIANS
AN AGREEMENT made the ………………… day of ……………………. 20…………… BETWEEN the Permanent
Secretary, Federal Civil Service Commission, Abuja (hereinafter referred to as “the Permanent
Secretary”), acting on behalf of the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (hereinafter referred
to as “the Government”) of the one part and ……………………………………… (hereinafter referred to as “the
person engaged”) of the other part -
WHEREBY IT IS AGREED AS FOLLOWS:
1. The person engaged undertakes that he/she will diligently and faithfully perform the duties of
…………….. for the term of his/her engagement, and will act in all respects according to the instructions
and directives gives to him/her by the Government through the Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra-
Ministerial Department or other duly authorized officers.
2. The basic salary of the officer is at the rate of ……………….. Naira (N……………) a year, rising by annual
increment to ……………. Naira (N……….) a year in Grade Level …………….. (10% 15% contract addition). The
person engaged shall, however, commence to draw his/her basic salary at the rate of …………….. Naira
(N……...….) a year.
3. This Agreement is subject to the conditions set forth in the Schedule attached hereto, and the
Schedule shall be read and construed as part of this Agreement.
4. Nothing in this Agreement shall impose any liability on the Permanent Secretary in his/her personal
capacity.
5. This Agreement shall be interpreted in accordance with the laws of Nigeria.
Signed by ……………..........………………….….……
On behalf of the Permanent Secretary
in the presence of ………………..........……….......
.........................................
Occupation ………………………….........................……
Signed by …………............................... Sign here across a
in the presence of ……………………..….….. N5 Revenue and
………………............…..…..… Postage stamp.
Signature ……………................................……………..
Address of the Witness ………….......……..….......……………
.…………………….......................…...…………
...............................................................
Occupation ……………………………………….........................
Appendix II
Chapter 3
PRELIMINARY LETTER
To ........................................................................................
Appointment and Rank ...........................................................
*I wish to draw your attention to the fact that/*It has been brought to my notice that your
*work/conduct is unsatisfactory in the following respect:
.................................................................................................................
1. If you desire to submit any representations why disciplinary action which might include
…………………………………………. should not be taken against you, they should be submitted to me through:
..........……………………………………………………………………………………
....…………………………………….................…………………………………...
within …………................… of receipt by you of this letter, failure to submit them within this time limit will
be taken to mean that you do not wish to make any, and appropriate sanction will be invoked against
you.
2. You will acknowledge receipt of this letter in the copy attached hereto.
Signed …………………………………….....
Appointment ……….………………….......
Date …………….……………………….......
……………………………………………………….…….
for: Perm Sec./Head of Extra-Ministerial Office
3. I acknowledge receipt of the original of this letter No…………………… Date the
……………………………………….... 20 …………….
Signed ………...................………..
Appointment and Rank .......................................
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*delete whichever is not appropriate.
Chapter 3
OFFICIAL SECRETS ACT, CAP.335
See Rule 030415
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
SECTION 1 – PROTECTION OF OFFICIAL INFORMATION, ETC.
SECTION 2 – PROTECTION OF DEFENCE ESTABLISHMENT, ETC.
SECTION 3 – RESTRICTIONS ON PHOTOGRAPHY, ETC. DURING
PERIODS OF EMERGENCY.
SECTION 4 – CONTROL OF MAIL FORWARDING AGENCIES, ETC.
SECTION 5 – POWER TO REQUIRE INFORMATION AS TO
OFFENCES UNDER THIS ACT.
SECTION 6 – SEARCH WARRANTS.
SECTION 7 – PENALTIES AND LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.
SECTION 8 – SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS AS TO OFFENCES.
SECTION 9 – INTERPRETATION, ETC.
SECTION 10 – SHORT TITLE, EXTENT AND REPEAL.
AN ACT TO MAKE FURTHER PROVISION FOR SECURING PUBLIC SAFETY: AND FOR PURPOSES
CONNECTED THEREWITH.
1962. N.29.
(13th September, 1962)
BE IT ENACTED by this Legislature of the Federation in this present Parliament assembled and by the
authority of the same as follows:
1. – (1) Subject to subsection (3) of this section, a person who -
(a) transmits any classified matter to a person to whom
he is not authorized on behalf of the government to transmit it, or
(b) obtains, reproduces or retains any classified matter
which he is not authorized on behalf of the government to obtain, reproduce or retain, as the case may
be, shall be guilty of an offence.
(2) A public officer who fails to comply with any instructions given to him on behalf of the
government as to the safeguarding of any classified matter which by virtue of his office is obtained by
him or under his control shall be guilty of an offence.
(3) On proceedings for an offence under subsection (1) of this section relating to any classified matter,
it shall be a defence to prove that -
(a) when the accused transmitted, obtained, reproduced
or retained the matter, as the case may be, he did not know and could not reasonably have been
expected to believe that it was classified matter; and
(b) when he knew or could reasonably have been
expected to believe that the matter was classified matter, he forthwith placed his knowledge of the case
at the disposal of the Nigeria Police Force.
2 - (1) A person who, for any purpose prejudicial to the security of Nigeria –
(a) enters or is in the vicinity or inspects a protected place; or
(b) photographs, sketches or in any other manner
whatsoever makes a record of the description of, or of anything situated in, a protected place; or
(c) obstructs, misleads or otherwise interferes with a person engaged in guarding a protected place;
or
(d) obtains, reproduces or retains any photograph, sketch,
plan, model or document relating to, or to anything situated in, a protected place, shall be guilty of an
offence.
(2) A person charged with an offence under the foregoing subsection shall, unless the contrary is
proved, be deemed to have acted for a purpose prejudicial to the security of Nigeria if from his/her
character or general conduct and from all the circumstances of the case it appears that he/she acted for
such a purpose; but nothing in this subsection shall be construed as precluding the giving in evidence of
matters tending to show that the accused acted for such a purpose.
3 - (1) The President may, during any period of emergency within the meaning of Section 65 of the
Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, by order provide that during the continuance of that
period no person shall, without permission in written given by the President, photograph, sketch or in
any other manner whatsoever make a record of the description of, such things designed or adapted for
use for defence purposes as may be specified by the order.
(2) A person who contravenes the provisions of an order under this section shall be guilty of an
offence.
4 - (1) The Minister may make regulations:
(a) for controlling the manner in which any person
conducts any organization for receiving letters, telegrams, packages or other matter for delivery or
forwarding to any person; and
(b) without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing
paragraph, providing for the furnishing of information and the keeping of records by persons having or
ceasing to have the conduct of such an organization.
(2) Regulations under this section may contain such incidental and supplementary provisions as the
Minister considers expedient for the purposes of the regulations, including in particular provisions
imposing penalties (not exceeding imprisonment for a term of three months or a fine of one hundred
Naira or both) for any failure to comply with the regulations may make different provision for different
circumstances.
(3) Regulations under this section shall not come into force until they are approved by resolution of
each House of the National Assembly.
5 – (1) Where an officer of the Nigeria Police Force not below the rank of Assistant Commissioner
suspects that an offence under Sections 1, 2, or 3 of this Act has been committed and that a particular
person is likely to be able to furnish information with respect to the suspected offence, he may, after
obtaining the consent in writing of the Minister for the issue of a warrant under this subsection in
respect of that person, issue a warrant to any superior police officer of that force authorizing him -
(a) to require that person to furnish to the superior officer
all information in that person’s possession relating to the suspected offence; and
(b) in any case where it appears necessary to the superior
officer so to do, to afford that person adequate facilities for attending at a time and place specified by
the officer and to require that person so to attend for the purpose of furnishing the information
aforesaid.
(2) Where it appears to an officer proposing to issue a warrant under the foregoing subsection that
the delay likely to be involved in obtaining the consent mentioned in that subsection would seriously
prejudice the security of Nigeria, he may issue the warrant without obtaining that consent but shall on
so doing forthwith report his action to the Minister.
(3) If any person –
(a) fails to comply with a requisition under Subsection (1) of this section; or
(b) in pursuance of such a requisition furnishes any
information which he believes to be, or recklessly furnishes any information which is, false in a material
particular,
he/she shall be guilty of an offence.
6. – (1) Where an officer of the Nigeria Police Force not below the rank of Assistant Commissioner has
reasonable cause to believe that an offence under Sections 1, 2 or 3 of this Act has been committed and
that matter relating to the offence is likely to be found on particular premises, he may issue a warrant to
any superior police officer of that forces authorizing him, and such police officers as may accompany
him, to enter and search those premises and to seize and remove any matter found on the premises
which the superior police officer considers is evidence of an offence under any of those sections.
(2) A police officer may use force as may be reasonably necessary for the purpose of executing a
warrant issued under this section.
7. – (1) A person who commits an offence under Section 1, 2 or 3 of this Act shall be liable –
(a) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a
term not exceeding fourteen years;
(b) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term
not exceeding two years or a fine of an amount not exceeding two hundred Naira or to both such
imprisonment and fine.
(2) A person who commits an offence under Section 5 of this Act shall be liable on summary conviction
to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or fine of an amount not exceeding one
hundred Naira or to both such imprisonment and fine.
(3) No proceedings in respect of an offence under Section 1, 2, or 3 of this Act shall be began except
with the consent of the Attorney-General of the Federation or a State or by or on the instructions or
authority of the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation or a State; and the instrument by
which permission is signified for the beginning of any such proceedings shall state whether the
proceedings shall be summary or on indictment.
(4) Nothing in the last foregoing subsection shall be construed as preventing the detention of any
person with a view to the taking of proceedings against him.
8 - (1) Without prejudice to any other provisions relating to the matters mentioned in the following
paragraphs or cognate matters, a person who -
(a) attempts to commit an offence under this Act or regulations made thereunder; or
(b) aids, abets, counsels, incites, procures or commands the commission of such an offence; or
(c) becomes an accessory before or after the fact to such an offence; or
(d) conceals or procures the concealment of such an
offence which he knows has been committed, shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished as a
principal offender and references in this Act to such an offence, or to an offence under any provision of
this Act, shall include references to an offence in pursuance of this subsection.
(2) Where it is alleged that an offence under this Act or regulations made thereunder has been
committed outside Nigeria by a citizen of Nigeria, proceedings in respect of the offence may be brought
in any court in Nigeria which would have had jurisdiction in the matter if the offence had been
committed in the part of Nigeria for which the court acts.
(3) Without prejudice to any order of arrest, a police officer may arrest without warrant any
person whom he finds committing an offence under Section 1, 2, or 3 of this Act or whom he reasonably
suspects of having committed such an offence.
9 - In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, the following expressions have the
meanings hereby assigned to them respectively, that is to say -
“classified matter” means any information or thing which, under any system of security classification
from time to time in use by or by any branch of the government, is not to be disclosed to the public and
of which the disclosure to the public would be prejudicial to the security of Nigeria;
“government” means the Government of the Federation.
“protected place” means –
(a) any naval, military or air-force establishment in Nigeria,
any other place in Nigeria used for or in connection with the production, storage or testing, by or on
behalf of the government, of equipment designed or adapted for use for defence purposes, and any
other building, structure or work in Nigeria used by the government for defence purposes; and
(b) any area in Nigeria or elsewhere for the time being
designated by an order made by the Minister as being an area from which the public should be excluded
in the interests of the security of Nigeria, and includes a part of a protected place within the meaning of
paragraph (a) and (b) of the definition;
“public officer” means a person who exercises or formerly exercises, for the purposes of the
government, the function of any officer or employer under the State.
(2) For the purposes of this Act, classified matter remains classified mater notwithstanding that it is
properly transmitted to, or obtained from, or otherwise dealt with by, a person acting on behalf of the
Government of a State.
10 – (1) This Act may be cited as the Official Secrets Act.
(2) This Act shall apply throughout the Federation, and shall apply to citizens of Nigeria elsewhere
than in the Federation.
(3) The Official Secrets Act is hereby repealed, so however that section 5 of the Official Secrets
Act, 1920 (which provides for the control of mail forwarding agencies) shall not cease to have effect in
its application to Nigeria until the first regulations made in pursuance of section 4 of this Act come into
force.
(4) Sub-section (3) of this section shall not be construed as repealing the Official Secrets Act
(hereinafter referred to as “the former legislation”) in so far as, apart from that sub-section, the former
legislation has effect as part of the law of a State and is not inconsistent with or made redundant by the
Act; and the former legislation shall have effect accordingly.
(5) Nothing in this section shall affect any power of the Legislature of a State to make laws with
respect to public safety which are not inconsistent with the provisions of the Act and, in particular, to
make laws repealing the former legislation in so far as it has effect as part of the law of the State.